Monthly Archives: July 2020

AI technology will soon replace error-prone humans all over the world but here’s why it could set us all free – The Independent

Posted on by

It has been oft-quoted albeit humouredly that the ideal of medicine is the elimination of the physician. The emergence and encroachment of artificial intelligence (AI) on the field of medicine, however, puts an inconvenient truth on the aforementioned witticism. Over the span of their professional lives, a pathologist may review 100,000 specimens, a radiologist more so; AI can perform this undertaking in days rather than decades.

Visualise your last trip to an NHS hospital, the experience was either one of romanticism or repudiation: the hustle and bustle in the corridors, or the agonising waiting time in A&E; the empathic human touch, or the dissatisfaction of a rushed consultation; a seamless referral or delays and cancellations.

Contrary to this, our experience of hospitals in the future will be slick and uniform; the human touch all but erased and cleansed, in favour of complete and utter digitalisation. Envisage an almost automated hospital: cleaning droids, self-portered beds, medical robotics. Fiction of today is the fact of tomorrow, doesnt quite apply in this situation, since all of the above-mentioned AI currently exists in some form or the other.

Sharing the full story, not just the headlines

But then, what comes of the antiquated, human doctor in our future world? Well, they can take consolation, their unemployment status would be part of a global trend: the creation displacing the creator. Mechanisation of the workforce leading to mass unemployment. This analogy of our friend, the doctor, speaks volumes; medicine is cherished for championing human empathy if doctors arent safe, nobody is. The solution: socialism.

Open revolt against machinery seems a novel concept set in some futuristic dystopian land, though, the reality can be found in history: The Luddites of Nottinghamshire. A radical faction of skilled textile workers protecting their employment through machine destruction and riots, during the industrial revolution of the 18th century. The now satirised term "Luddite", may be more appropriately directed to your fathers fumbled attempt at unlocking his iPhone, as opposed to a militia.

What lessons are to be learnt from the Luddites? Much. Firstly, the much-fictionalised fight for dominance between man and machine is just that: fictionalised. The real fight is within mankind. The Luddites fight was always against the manufacturer, not the machine; machine destruction simply acted as the receptacle of dissidence. Secondly, government feeling towards the Luddites is exemplified through 12,000 British soldiers being deployed against the Luddites, far exceeding the personnel deployed against Napoleons forces in the Iberian Peninsula in the same year.

Though providing clues, the future struggle against AI and its wielders will be tangibly different from that of the Luddite struggle of the 18th century, next; its personal, its about soul. Our higher cognitive faculties will be replaced: the diagnostic expertise of the doctor, decision-making ability of the manager, and (if were lucky) political matters too.

Boston Dynamics describes itself as 'building dynamic robots and software for human simulation'. It has created robots for DARPA, the US' military research company

Google has been using similar technology to build self-driving cars, and has been pushing for legislation to allow them on the roads

The DARPA Urban Challenge, set up by the US Department of Defense, challenges driverless cars to navigate a 60 mile course in an urban environment that simulates guerilla warfare

Deep Blue, a computer created by IBM, won a match against world champion Garry Kasparov in 1997. The computer could evaluate 200 million positions per second, and Kasparov accused it of cheating after the match was finished

Another computer created by IBM, Watson, beat two champions of US TV series Jeopardy at their own game in 2011

Apple's virtual assistant for iPhone, Siri, uses artificial intelligence technology to anticipate users' needs and give cheeky reactions

Xbox's Kinect uses artificial intelligence to predict where players are likely to go, an track their movement more accurately

Boston Dynamics describes itself as 'building dynamic robots and software for human simulation'. It has created robots for DARPA, the US' military research company

Google has been using similar technology to build self-driving cars, and has been pushing for legislation to allow them on the roads

The DARPA Urban Challenge, set up by the US Department of Defense, challenges driverless cars to navigate a 60 mile course in an urban environment that simulates guerilla warfare

Deep Blue, a computer created by IBM, won a match against world champion Garry Kasparov in 1997. The computer could evaluate 200 million positions per second, and Kasparov accused it of cheating after the match was finished

Another computer created by IBM, Watson, beat two champions of US TV series Jeopardy at their own game in 2011

Apple's virtual assistant for iPhone, Siri, uses artificial intelligence technology to anticipate users' needs and give cheeky reactions

Xbox's Kinect uses artificial intelligence to predict where players are likely to go, an track their movement more accurately

The monopolising of AI will lead to mass unemployment and mass welfare, reverberating globally. AI efficiency and efficacy will soon replace the error-prone human. It must be the case that AI is to be socialised and the means of production, the AI, redistributed: in other words, brought under public ownership. Perhaps, the emergence of co-operative groups made up of experienced individuals will arise to undertake managerial functions in their previous, now automated, workplace. Whatever the structure, such an undertaking will require the full intervention of the state; on a moral basis not realised in the Luddite struggle.

Envisaging an economic system of nationalised labour of AI machinery performing laborious as well as lively tasks shant be feared. This economic model, one of "abundance", provides a platform of the fullest of creative expression and artistic flair for mankind. Humans can pursue leisurely passions. Imagine the doctor dedicating superfluous amounts of time on the golfing course, the manager pursuing artistic talents. And what of the politician? Well, thats anyones guess

An abundance economy is one of sustenance rather than subsistence; initiating an old form of socialism fit for a futuristic age. AI will transform the labour market by destroying it; along with the feudalistic structure inherent to it.

Thought-provoking questions do arise: what is to become of human aspiration? What exactly will it mean to be human in this world of AI?

Ironically; perhaps it will be the machine revolution that gives us the resolution to age-old problems in society.

Visit link:

AI technology will soon replace error-prone humans all over the world but here's why it could set us all free - The Independent

Adobe’s New AI Tool Can Recommend Different Headlines and Images To The Varying Audience Of A Blog – Digital Information World

Posted on by

Continuing with their legacy of innovation, Adobe has yet again brought a new way to personalize a blog post for different users with the help of artificial intelligence.

Known by the name of Adobe Sensei, the technology will recommend different headlines, images (taken from the library of Adobe Stock), and also preview blurbs based on improving the experience for the targeted audience.

The new tool has come out as a part of the Adobe Sneaks program which employees use to develop their new ideas in the form of proper demos and then showcase what they have made at the Adobe Summit every year. So, while a lot of people consider Sneaks as merely demos, Adobe Experience Cloud Senior Director Steve Hammond disagree by telling that almost 60% of the Sneaks turn out into real products later after the Summit. Furthermore, Hyman Chung, a senior product manager for Adobe Experience Cloud state that Sneaks, in particular, can be more useful for content creators and content marketers who are already enjoying a great hile in traffic during the coronavirus pandemic and may now be looking for more unique ways to make readers engage more by doing less work.

Chung showed the magic of Experience Cloud with a test blog based on a tourism company. One blog post about traveling to Australia was presented differently to thrill-seekers, frugal travelers, partygoers, and others in the demo. The feature also provides the liberty to writers and editors to make changes in the preview according to the desired audience and even go through the Snippet Quality Score for what Sensei recommends.

Hammond also explained that the demo only illustrates Adobes approach to AI as the company majorly focuses on delivering automation in specific user cases with AI rather than going for building bigger platforms. So, in Senseis case, AI will not change the content but only how it is promoted on the site.

For privacy matters, Hammond has clearly mentioned that the audience personas are only built on what kind of information the user decides to share with the website or brand.

Read next: This New AI-Based Algorithm Created By Microsoft Helps To Restore Old Photos

View post:

Adobe's New AI Tool Can Recommend Different Headlines and Images To The Varying Audience Of A Blog - Digital Information World

CoVID-19 and the use of robots – AI Daily

Posted on by

Back to the OG video. Scientists at the University of Liverpool have unveiled a robotic colleague that has been working non-stop in their lab throughout lockdown. The 100,000 programmable inhuman researcher learns from its results to refine its experiments. "It can work autonomously, so I can run experiments from home," explained Benjamin Burger, PhD student at the University and one of the developers of the robots. Dr Burger jokingly added, "It doesn't get bored, doesn't get tired, works around the clock and doesn't need holidays." Such technology could make scientific discovery "a thousand-fold faster", scientists say. A new report by the Royal Society of Chemistry lays out a "post-COVID national research strategy", using robotics, AI and advanced computing as a part of a set of technologies that "must be urgently embraced" to assist socially distancing scientists continue their look for solutions to global challenges. Future science historians will mark the start of the 21st century as a time when robots took their place beside human scientists. Programmers have turned computers from extraordinarily powerful but fundamentally dumb tools, into tools with smarts. Artificially intelligent programs make sense of knowledge so complex that it defies human analysis. They even come up with hypotheses, the testable questions that drive science, on their own.

For better or worse the robots are about to replace many humans in their jobs, analysts say; coronavirus outbreak is just speeding up the method. "People usually say they need an individual's element to their interactions but Covid-19 has changed that," says Martin Ford, a futurist who has written about the ways robots are going to be integrated into the economy within the coming decades. "[Covid-19] goes to vary consumer preference and really open up new opportunities for automation." Companies large and little are expanding how they use robots to extend social distancing and reduce the quantity of staff that need to physically come to figure. Robots are also getting used to performing roles workers cannot do at home. Walmart is using robots to scrub their floors, fast-food chains like McDonald's have been testing robots as cooks and servers in a service where the health concern is highest. After all this, it is evident that the majority of the jobs that are available to the general people like us are temporary, insecure, and badly paid. Nevertheless, with the advent of using more robots in the workplace, there will be an unjust, unfair and unacceptable distribution of income. Just for the sake of health concerns, the use of robots increased exponentially. All of this is that version of future which haunts the experts of AI.

While automation is likely to foster overall economic prosperity, it comes at the price of increasing inequality. The COVID-19 pandemic is reinforcing both the trend towards automation and its effects. The main challenge here is to ensure that as many as possible will benefit from the positive economic and social effects of automation to prevent a situation in which a substantial part of society is disconnected from the gains brought by technological progress. There are still many things that they will never be able to do better than humans, and there are still more that they will not be able to do as cheaply. We are yet to discover the full range of these things, but we can already find out the key limitations to what robots and AI can do.

First, there appears to be a high quality in human intelligence that, for all its wonders, AI cannot match, namely its ability to influence the uncertain, the fuzzy, and the logically ambiguous.

Second, due to the innate nature of human intelligence, people are extremely flexible in being able to perform umpteen possible tasks, including those that were not foreseen at first.

Third, humans are social creatures instead of isolated individuals. Humans want to deal with other humans. Robots will never be better than humans at being human, and so I conclude- there is no risk for a post-pandemic near future.

Reference: 1. https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-53029854

2. https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52340651

3. https://voxeu.org/article/covid-19-and-macroeconomic-effects-automation

4. Roger Bootle- The AI Economy Work, Wealth and Welfare in the Robot Age; Nicholas Brealey Publishing, Sept. 2019

Thumbnail credit: shutterstock.com

Continue reading here:

CoVID-19 and the use of robots - AI Daily

CFPB Highlights the Growing Role of Artificial Intelligence in the Delivery of Financial Services – JD Supra

Posted on by

TheConsumer Financial Protection Bureau("CFPB") has published guidance on July 7, 2020 which highlights the potential use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the delivery of financial servicesparticularly in credit underwriting models. In addition to providing an overview of the ways in which AI is being used by financial institutions, the publication addresses: (1) industry uncertainty about how AI fits into the existing regulatory framework, especially for credit underwriting; and (2) the tools that the CFPB has been using to promote innovation, facilitate compliance, and reduce regulatory uncertainty.

As the publication notes, financial institutions are starting to deploy AI across a range of functions, including as virtual assistants that can fulfill customer requests, in models to detect fraud or other potential illegal activity, or as compliance monitoring tools. Credit underwriting is one specific area in which AI may have a profound impact. Credit underwriting models that are built upon AI have the potential to expand credit access by permitting lenders to evaluate creditworthiness of some of the millions of consumers who are unscorable using traditional underwriting systems. These new AI infused models and technologies will typically allow lenders to evaluate more information about credit applicants, which go beyond the information that the lenders would have been able to assess using traditional consumer reporting agency reports. In turn, consideration of such information may lead to more efficient credit decisions and potentially lower the cost of credit. On the other hand, however, AI may create or amplify risks of unlawful discrimination, lack of transparency, and privacy concerns. Further, bias may be found in the source data or model construction, which can lead to inaccurate predictions. Thus, in considering the implementation of AI, ensuring that the innovation is consistent with consumer protections will be critical.

Despite AIs potential benefits, industry uncertainty about how AI fits into the existing regulatory compliance framework may be slowing its adoption, especially for credit underwriting. One vital issue is how complex AI models address the adverse action notice requirements in the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) and the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). ECOA and FCRA require creditors to provide consumers with the main reasons for denial of credit or other adverse action. While these notice provisions serve important anti-discrimination, accuracy, and educational purposes, industry stakeholders may have questions about how institutions can comply with these requirements if the reasons driving an AI model decision are based on complex interrelationships. To alleviate this concern, the publication provides specific examples of the ways in which creditors can comply with ECOA and FCRA when issuing adverse action notices based on AI models.

In addition to concluding that the existing regulatory framework has built-in flexibility that can be compatible with AI algorithms, the publication goes on to outline the various tools that the Bureau uses to promote innovation, facilitate compliance, and reduce regulatory uncertainty, including:

In particular, the first two policies (TDP & CAS) provide for a legal safe harbor that could reduce regulatory uncertainty in the area of AI and adverse action notices. The third policy discusses the ways in which stakeholders can obtain No-Action Letters from the CFPB, which can effectively provide increased regulatory certainty through a statement that the CFPB will not bring a supervisory or enforcement action against a company for providing a product or service under certain facts and circumstances.

This latest publication is a good sign for industry participants as it reaffirms previous guidance published by the CFPB which shows that the Bureau is committed to helping spur innovation consistent with consumer protections. By working together, industry stakeholders and the Bureau may be able to facilitate the use of this promising technology to expand access to credit and benefit consumers.

Read the original post:

CFPB Highlights the Growing Role of Artificial Intelligence in the Delivery of Financial Services - JD Supra

Imec & GLOBALFOUNDRIES Partner Up And Announce Breakthroughs In AI Chip On IoT Devices – Wccftech

Posted on by

Imec, a world-leading research and innovation hub in nanoelectronics and digital technologies, and GLOBALFOUNDRIES, the worlds leading specialty foundry, today announced a hardware demonstration of a new artificial intelligence chip.

Based on imecs Analog in Memory Computing (AiMC) architecture utilizing GFs 22FDX solution, the new chip is optimized to perform deep neural network calculations on in-memory computing hardware in the analog domain. Achieving record-high energy efficiency up to 2,900 TOPS/W, the accelerator is a key enabler for inference-on-the-edge for low-power devices. The privacy, security, and latency benefits of this new technology will have an impact on AI applications in a wide range of edge devices, from smart speakers to self-driving vehicles.

Chinese Semiconductor Manufacturer SMIC to Introduce 7nm Node

Since the early days of the digital computer age, the processor has been separated from the memory. Operations performed using a large amount of data require a similarly large number of data elements to be retrieved from the memory storage. This limitation, known as the von Neumann bottleneck, can overshadow the actual computing time, especially in neural networks which depend on large vector-matrix multiplications. These computations are performed with the precision of a digital computer and require a significant amount of energy. However, neural networks can also achieve accurate results if the vector-matrix multiplications are performed with a lower precision on analog technology.

To address this challenge, imec and its industrial partners in imecs industrial affiliation machine learning program, including GF, developed a new architecture that eliminates the von Neumann bottleneck by performing analog computations in SRAM cells. The resulting Analog Inference Accelerator (AnIA), built on GFs 22FDX semiconductor platform, has exceptional energy efficiency. Characterization tests demonstrate power efficiency peaking at 2,900 tera operations per second per watt (TOPS/W). Pattern recognition in tiny sensors and low-power edge devices, which is typically powered by machine learning in data centers, can now be performed locally on this power-efficient accelerator.

Looking ahead, GF will include AiMC as a feature able to be implemented on the 22FDX platform for a differentiated solution in the AI market space. GFs 22FDX employs 22nm FD-SOI technology to deliver outstanding performance at extremely low power, with the ability to operate at 0.5 Volt ultralow-power and at 1 pico amp per micron for ultralow standby leakage. 22FDX with the new AiMC feature is in development at GFs state-of-the-art 300mm production line at Fab 1 in Dresden, Germany.

Read the original post:

Imec & GLOBALFOUNDRIES Partner Up And Announce Breakthroughs In AI Chip On IoT Devices - Wccftech

News digest light-activated nanoparticles, Government’s obesity plans, tumour ‘glue’ and AI research fund – Cancer Research UK – Science Blog

Posted on by

Scientists are developing light-activated nanoparticles to kill cancer cells Credit: Harry Gui on Unsplash

With news about the coronavirus pandemic developing daily, we want to make sure everyone affected by cancer gets the information they need during this time.

Were pulling together the latest government and NHS health updates from across the UK in a separate blog post, which were updating regularly.

A new combined therapy with the drug brentuximab has been approved for adults with a rare type of fast-growing lymphoma. Clinical trial evidence suggests the treatment could give people with this type of blood cancer more time before their disease progresses. More on this in our news report.

Boris Johnson is set to announce restrictions onmulti-buy and similar pricepromotions on a range offoodshigh in fat, sugar or salt in a bid to tackle rising obesity in the UK, according to The Times ()and Guardian. The announcement comes off the back of evidence showing that 40% of food spending goes on products on promotion. However, health campaigners have expressed their disappointment at the seeming lack of action on junk food marketing. According to the leaked documents, a 9pm watershed on junk food adverts is not on the cards at this time, although the plans may change in the coming weeks.

Scientists have developed light-activated nanoparticles that kill skin cancer cells in mice. The treatment involves linking tiny particles to short pieces of RNA that inhibit the production of essential proteins that cancer cells need to survive. Its early days yet, but scientists are hopeful that the light-activated technology can help to reduce side effects and make the treatment more targeted. Read more on this at New Atlas.

An excess of a protein thats essential to cell division PRC1 has been linked to many types of cancer, including prostate, ovarian and breast. Now scientists have found that the protein acts as a glue during cell division, precisely controlling the speed at which DNA strands separate as a single cell divides. These findings could help to explain why too much or too little PRC1 disrupts the division process and can be linked to cancer developing. Full story at Technology Networks.

Earlier this month, the Government announced over 16 million pounds in research funding to help improve the diagnosis of cancer and other life-threatening diseases, with Cancer Research UK putting in 3 million. Some of that money will go towards an Oxford-led project to improve lung cancer diagnosis. The team hope to use artificial intelligence to combine clinical, imaging and molecular data and make lung cancer diagnosis more accurate. More on this at Digital Health.

Weve partnered with Abcam to develop custom antibodies that could facilitate cancer research. Dr John Baker at Abcam said: We are proud to be working with Cancer Research UK to support their scientists and help them achieve their next breakthrough faster. Find out more at Cambridge Independent.

Technology Networks reports on a new study that has taken a closer look at how tiny bubble-like structures called vesicles can help cancer cells spread. Scientists found that vesicles from cancer cells contained high levels of proteins with lipid molecules attached, which are associated with the spread of cancer. Weve blogged before about how tumours spread.

Scarlett Sangster is a writer for PA Media Group

More on this topic

Continue reading here:

News digest light-activated nanoparticles, Government's obesity plans, tumour 'glue' and AI research fund - Cancer Research UK - Science Blog

How Disneylands Galaxys Edge fits into the Star Wars universe – OCRegister

Posted on by

A new book from Lucasfilm and Walt Disney Imagineering explains how the Star Wars planet at the heart of the Galaxys Edge themed land in Disneyland fits into the vast universe of a galaxy far, far away.

The new Travelers Guide to Batuu serves as an in-world travel guide to the Black Spire Outpost village on the Star Wars planet of Batuu, the setting for the 14-acre lands at Disneyland in Anaheim and Disneys Hollywood Studios in Florida.

Disneyland remains closed until further notice amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Disneys Hollywood Studios in Florida home to Batuu East is set to reopen on Tuesday, July 15.

SEE ALSO: Brook and Robin Lopez will get to ride Disney World coasters during NBA bubble season

The backstory and the residents of Black Spire Outpost and Batuu help frame the adventures that play out in Star Wars: Galaxys Edge. Delving deeper into the geography and history of the planet in the Travelers Guide to Batuu helps peel back additional layers in Galaxys Edge and offers hints at stories yet to be told in the Star Wars themed lands.

A galactic map in the Travelers Guide to Batuu places the Galaxys Edge planet on the western reaches of the outer rim of the fictional Star Wars universe.

It is precisely this location that has shaped the planets history, according to Travelers Guide to Batuu. Before advanced hyperspace capabilities, Batuus position made it a bustling fueling stop for ships heading into Wild Space. With the advances in technology and well-charted hyperlanes, most modern travelers choose to bypass Batuu, resulting in the planet becoming a crossroads for adventurers and a haven for those who prefer life in the shadows.

SEE ALSO: Downtown Disney now selling coronavirus masks with Mickey Mouse, Hulk and Baby Yoda characters

Black Spire Outpost the planets small but most populous settlement sits in the Surabat River Valley near the neighboring villages of Galma, Surabat and Peka.

Galma is a short shuttle ride from Black Spire Outpost.

To many it feels undeveloped as most of the structures here have been scavenged and repurposed, according to Travelers Guide to Batuu. Broken-down speeders and ships serve as homes and workshops for the resourceful mechanics who live here today.

Galma is known as a haven for illegal podracing and the gambling that surrounds the outlawed sport.

These activities attract a criminal element and I do not recommend it for most off-worlders, according to the book. Gambling on these activities is a quick way to lose all your credits and you do not want to be in debt to anyone who frequents this district.

SEE ALSO: These are the 26 Downtown Disney shops and restaurants that will reopen Thursday

The tiny town of Surabat offers few modern conveniences.

The hardy residents, though isolated, build sturdy homes that sit nestled against the base of the beautiful spires and mountains, according to Travelers Guide to Batuu. Weather here is more harsh than other parts of Batuu with strong winds throughout the year.

Like the rest of Batuu, Surabat is distinguished by the towering petrified spires that dot the landscape.

It remains a favorite jumping-off point for mountain hikers and thrill-seekers looking to climb the ancient spires, according to the book. Many who live here sustain themselves as lichen harvesters, bravely climbing the spires to collect valuable golden lichen.

SEE ALSO: How will Disneyland keep fans from getting too close to Mickey Mouse?

Peka is known for its simple huts and log cabins built from native trees.

I find the residents here welcoming and sociable to visitors, willing to share their modest, family-oriented lives with those who pass through, according to Travelers Guide to Batuu.

Peka residents survive off the land and the river that runs past the community.

Many work as fishermen and farmers, some even offering to take off-worlders on fishing excursions that let you catch and cook your own lunch on the banks of the flowing river, according to the book.

SEE ALSO: Which Disneyland shows and attractions will remain closed when the park reopens?

Batuu is a short hyper-space hop to a number of nearby planets in the Star Wars galaxy.

For Star Wars fans, the forest moon of Endor from Return of the Jedi is likely the best-known destination in the Batuu region of the galaxy.

The lush forest planet of Takodana had been the perfect planet for a day trip before Maz Kanatas castle was destroyed in The Force Awakens.

SEE ALSO: How Disneyland will enforce mandatory mask rule when park reopens

A short commute to Bakura offers the closest big city to Batuu. Mokivj is known for its beautiful sunsets and ten moons, but catastrophic lava flows have devastated the planet.

The unfortunately named Gannaria is a refuge for smugglers involved in the illegal spice trade. The mountainous planet of Rattatak is home to warlords and gladiatorial societies.

Yakorki attracts thousands each year for the annual Fungi Fest. High tides cover the white sand beaches of Zaddja each night. The remote planet of Umme is a haven for big-game safaris.

The new Travelers Guide to Batuu offers recommendations on where to eat, shop and sightsee during a visit to Galaxys Edge while providing backstories for the characters and locations in the Star Wars themed land.

The Travelers Guide to Batuu is ostensibly penned by Eloc Throno, a galactic historian and travel writer who has also written guides to Tatooine, Mustafar and other Star Wars destinations. The book also credits Lucasfilm creative executives Pablo Hidalgo and Matt Martin as well as Walt Disney Imagineering managing story editor Margaret Kerrison who all had a hand in developing the backstory for Galaxys Edge.

Visit link:

How Disneylands Galaxys Edge fits into the Star Wars universe - OCRegister

HempSpot coming to Willowick – News-Herald.com

Posted on by

Saturday, July 18th, will mark the Grand Opening of HempSpot in Willowick!

From 10 am to 2, located on 28801 Lakeshore Blvd, HempSpot will be opening their doors to offer residents an affordable alternative to having a healthy lifestyle.

There will also be a fitness class at 10:30 with Cleveland Holtist winner GI Jayne along with giveaways for everyone that purchases a product that day.

HempSpot will offer a variety of CBD and Hemp products such as protein bars, drinks, food, and more!

Founder Brian Lytle and Chief Operating Officer Chad Gourley want residents to have every opportunity to learn more about what they can do to help themselves.

Lytle and Gourley, both coming from professional wellness and marketing backgrounds, came together to bring this idea to life in Willowick. After researching CBD and Hemp's benefits, they both wanted to bring that to their communities' attention and offer a platform for education.

"My background is in the wellness industry before I got into the CBD industry. I had a personal training company. I treat people in different studios, or at their house, while I was training I stumbled across CBD," says Lytle.

After being informed by a colleague about all the benefits to CBD, Lytle was still hesitant in the beginning. "My perspective was that it was bad, it was drugs, so I didn't pay it much attention. Then I started doing more research and was an anti-inflammatory, and some of the clients I was working with had inflammation of the gut, called a leaky gut syndrome."

"So I started giving it (CBD) to them, and after about a month, their discomfort started going away. So I thought it might be something to this, and I started to do even more research on CBD, and have become almost evangelical about it."

"Part of my mission is to educate people, the retail store came about because I wanted a platform to talk to people and help them understand what CBD and Hemp are and how it can help," he continued.

So what exactly is CBD? What is Hemp?

Kathleen Felton, a writer for Health.com, wrote that CBD is short for cannabidiol. It is a chemical compound from the Cannabid Sativa plant, which is also known as marijuana or help, according to the US National Library of Medicine.

It's a naturally occurring substance that's used in products like oils and edibles to impart a feeling of relaxation and calm. Unlike its cousin, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the primary active ingredient in marijuana, CBD is not psychoactive.

Hemp, according to Aaron Cadena of Medium.com, is a term used to classify varieties of Cannabis that contain 0.3% or less THC content (by dry weight).

It has generally been used to describe non-intoxicating Cannabis that is harvested for the industrial use of its derived products.

For this and many other reasons, Lytle and Gourley have chosen to build a business model around Hemp and CBD as an alternative for health and wellness. As to why they decided Willowick-- the answer was simple, its where they are from.

"I live in Willowick, Chad used to live in Willowick, I have a family here and personally want to contribute to a city that has a lot of potential," Lytle says.

"We want to be that spark. We want to give back and be apart of a community that could thrive, but just isn't' thriving yet," he continued.

Gourley, also the creator of LiveWell Willoughby, has always wanted to inspire and engage with his community. He added, "We've come together about what we want HempSpot to be, a voice and platform to educate. At our grand opening, you're going to see things people can take with them to help educate them on what CBD is and how they can take it, they can also see what Hemp is. They are the same, but separate. On our shelves, you'll see there is Hemp protein, that doesn't have CBD in it, but Hemp protein is a complete protein, which is very hard to do in a plant-based side of things. There's a lot of education that we have to do."

"One of our goals is to get Hemp on the food pyramid," he continued.

But after shortly securing their space, COVID spread nationwide, and many businesses had to close.

"It's been rough; for me, all around it had a huge negative impact on my business, in one part," says Lytle.

Gourley added, "It definitely at first was like wow, how are we going to overcome this?"

"Especially because we had just actually secured this location, like two weeks before COVID hit, and suddenly everything is getting shut down," he continued.

"Luckily, things have opened up a bit so we can do our grand opening."

Lytle and Gourley are taking every precaution in the effort of social distancing for their opening on July 18th.

"We'll have masks there, hand sanitizer, so people feel comfortable. We'll make sure we'll let people know we're not enforcing it on anyone, but if they chose, we'll have markers for it so they can feel comfortable. We are taking all precautions," Lytle says.

Gourley says residents should come out because HempSpot isn't your typical CBD shop. "There's a lot of CBD shops in the area, and this isn't just a CBD shop. It's helpful for people to understand there is coffee, ice cream, healthy snack protein bars, even Hemp pastas coming in."

"Our whole focus is on wellness and helping people have sustainable health in their lives and build better lifestyles."

HempSpot is also hiring for consultants, for more information follow their page on Facebook.

See original here:
HempSpot coming to Willowick - News-Herald.com

Beat Stress | Spiritual and Physical Wellness – ChicagoNow

Posted on by

By Sheri McIntosh, today at 1:38 pm

Avoiding stress is usually on the list for living a healthy lifestyle. It is typically behind eating healthy and exercising. I feel like eating healthy and exercising is in my control. Stress comes looking for me. Most of us do not intentionally place ourselves in stressful situations. Life circumstances bring stress into our lives.

Stress is a physical and mental response to life experiences. Everyone has stressful events in their life at some point of time. We have life events involving work, family, or health that may cause stress.

When you experience stress, your body responds by releasing a hormone that increases your heart and breathing rate. This is okay when you experience short-term stress; however, if you are experiencing long-term stress it can be detrimental to your health. Long-term or chronic stress can cause several health issues including depression, anxiety, obesity, high blood pressure, and heart disease. With short-term stress you can feel the change in your body. Some people under chronic stress have experienced it for such a long time they ignore the impact on their body. They have insomnia, anxiety or are short tempered and do not realize that stress is at the root of their problem.

There are things you can do to help you cope with stress. It is okay to admit that you feel stressed. Practice self-care and do not feel like you are being selfish. There is nothing wrong with taking some time out for yourself. Find time to relax. Try deep breathing exercises, prayer, and meditation. Take a bubble bath. Listen to your favorite music. Use a journal to write down your feelings. Do not make unrealistic goals that you will pressure yourself to reach. (This also includes not letting other people create unrealistic goals for you.) You want to use positive activities to cope with stress. If you feel overwhelmed and cannot get a handle on your stress seek professional help.

Read more:
Beat Stress | Spiritual and Physical Wellness - ChicagoNow

Tia Mowry’s Life with Endometriosis That Caused Her Fertility Struggles – AmoMama

Posted on by

Tia Mowrys Endometriosis condition caused her to have surgery, change her diet completely, and have difficulty conceiving. Heres a look at her journey.

Most women hope to have a family with children when they grow older, including Tia Mowry, which is why she agreed to surgery after knowing the possibility of having Endometriosis.

The Sister, Sister star has been transparent about her diagnosis and infertility problems throughout the years. Heres a look at her story.

SHOWING SIGNS

In a tell-all video, Mowry narrated how she came to know of her sickness. She recalled her college days and the severe menstrual cramps she would get that would cause her to miss class.

Although her doctor initially told her to do a few remedies to help brush it odd, she knew something was wrong.

After a friend suggested she see a specialist, Mowry learned the possibility of having Endometriosis. However, the doctor said that the only way to be diagnosed was through surgery.

What pushed the actress to have the procedure was that the condition, if she did have it, may cause infertility struggles, which she did not want.

LIVING WITH ENDOMETRIOSIS

The surgery found scar tissues along the uterus lining, causing pain and signifying that Mowry had the illness.

Doctors removed the scar tissues to ease the pain, which it did for two years. However, the Endometriosis came back, and Mowry had to get another surgery.

In order to stop the scar tissues from returning and needing surgery, she had to change her diet and eliminate inflammatory-causing food, such as sugar, dairy, and highly processed food.

Because of her drive and will to have a child, Mowry strictly followed all orders given to her by the doctor. She shared:

I was reassured that with the right eating habits and lifestyle changes (no sugar, no carbs), I would have a better possibility of getting pregnant.

A beautiful thing that came out of her strict diet was a cookbook, which she released in 2017, called Whole New You.

Her new eating habits allowed Mowry to discover more recipes in the kitchen and share them with those who wanted to live a healthy lifestyle as well.

HAVING TWO CHILDREN

The changes she made allowed her body to become better, with symptoms disappearing and other conditions, like eczema and migraines, leaving as well.

The best part of it all was that Mowry was able to conceive a child. When I got pregnant with my son, I was overjoyed, she said.

Initially, the Family Reunion star was in denial that she had to take about two dozen pregnancy tests to prove her disbelief, but eventually, she was just overwhelmed and happy.

A few years later, Mowry needed another surgery to become pregnant with her second child. Although the conceiving process was complicated for both, she was happy she received support from her husband.

I didnt think Id be able to have a second child, and its been over seven years since my first pregnancy, she shared. I didnt let my infertility issues define me or define what my goals were and what I wanted in life.

Today, Mowry is a proud mom to two beautiful children, a son named Cree and a daughter named Cairo, who often appears in her social media.

CELEBRATING FATHERS DAY

Recently, the actress family celebrated Fathers Day at home and made the Sunday special for Cory Hardrict.

Photos showed that the family-of-four had a fun-filled afternoon taking a swim in the pool, with a sweet snap of Hardrict carrying his daughter.

Mowry also included a picture of their breakfast spread, which included scrambled eggs, pancakes, blueberries, bananas, grapes, and chocolate chips.

There are important images for the world to see, she captioned the post. You are an amazing #father and we are blessed to have you help raise the next generation.

The information in this article is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content, including text, and images contained on, or available through this NEWS.AMOMAMA.COM is for general information purposes only. NEWS.AMOMAMA.COM does not take responsibility for any action taken as a result of reading this article. Before undertaking any course of treatment please consult with your healthcare provider.

Original post:
Tia Mowry's Life with Endometriosis That Caused Her Fertility Struggles - AmoMama

Doctor debunked the main myths about healthy lifestyles – The Saxon

Posted on by

Dr. Alexander Myasnikov debunked the major myths relating to healthy lifestyle. Some related with the latest rules had become obsolete.

For a long time it was believed that red meat and the fats harmful to the human body. In particular, it was felt that the product triggers an increased risk of a number of diseases and unpleasant conditions, including stroke and heart attack. However, a number of works of scientists talked about the fact that monogyny in the product is not so harmful. In the autumn of last year, the study showed that the cardiovascular system of the red meat risk is not responsible. At the same time, the product remains a risk factor for colon cancer. It contains many important vitamins and minerals, so in a week it can eat up to three times what would be useful.

The view that daily need to overcome 10 thousand steps, is not correct. We are talking about the approximate load volumes, the main thing to move. You can go swimming, Jogging or other physical activity. In the diet butchers advised to include plenty of vegetables, fruits and fish. Sausage is better to replace the boiled meat.

The latest news

Go here to read the rest:
Doctor debunked the main myths about healthy lifestyles - The Saxon

Rapid Industrialization in Developing Countries to Aid the Growth of the Walnut Market 2019 2029 – 3rd Watch News

Posted on by

The global Walnut market gives detailed Evaluation about all of the Important aspects related to the market. The study on international Walnut economy, offers deep insights regarding the Walnut market covering all of the crucial aspects of the marketplace. Moreover, the report provides historical information with prospective forecast over the forecast period. Various important factors like market trends, revenue growth patterns market stocks and supply and demand are contained in almost all the market research document for every business. A number of the important aspects analysed in the report contains market share, creation, key regions, revenue rate as well as key players.

The study of various sections of the international market are also Covered in the research report. In addition to that, for the forecast periods conclusion of factors such as market size and the competitive landscape of the market is analysed in the report. Due to the rising globalization and digitization, there are new trends coming to the marketplace daily. The research report provides the detailed analysis of all of these tendencies.

Request Sample Report @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.co/samples/28999

In addition, the Walnut marketplace report also supplies the Latest trends in the global Walnut market with the assistance of primary in addition to secondary research methodologies. Also, the analysis report on Walnut market gives a wide analysis of the market including market overview, production, manufacturers, dimensions, price, value, growth rate, income, prices, export, consumption, and sales revenue of this global Walnut market. On the other hand, the Walnut market report also studies the market status for the prediction period. However, this will help to grow the advertising opportunities throughout the world as well as major market suppliers.

Market Participants

Some of the market participants dominating the global walnut market are Gold River Orchards, Alpine Pacific Nut, Grower Direct Nut Co. Inc, Poindexter Nut Company, Andersen Shelling Inc, Webster Limited, California Walnut Company, Kashmir Walnut Group, Mariani Nut Company Inc, Morada Produce Company L.P., Synders Lance ,Inc., Plantable Ltd., Pepinoix, Empire Nut Company, LLC, Borges India Private Limited, Agromillora Group, Guerra Nut Shelling Company, Crain Walnut Shelling Inc, Mid Valley Nut, Grimo Nut Nursery, Sacramento Valley Walnut Growers LLC, Royal Saffron Company among other walnut manufacturers.

Opportunities for Participants in the Walnut Market

Increase in consumption of healthy food ingredients and food products due to increasing inclination of the consumers towards maintaining a healthy lifestyle is the main factor likely to drive the growth of the global walnut market. The growing demand for walnuts due to its nutrition rich qualities for personal care and cosmetic industry is expected to drive the global walnut market. Continuously growing population, growing demand for convenience food, and consumer willingness to spend more for healthy and quality foods which leads to an increase in the demand for walnut.

Request Report Methodology @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.co/methodology/28999

The Walnut market report provides helpful insights for Every established and innovative players throughout the globe. Additionally the Walnut market report provides accurate evaluation for the shifting competitive dynamics. This study report includes a complete analysis of future growth in terms of the evaluation of the mentioned forecast period. The Walnut market report offers a comprehensive analysis of the technological advancement prognosis over time to be aware of the market growth prices. The Walnut market report also has progressive analysis of the huge number of unique facets which are boosting or operating in addition to regulating the Walnut market growth.

A systematized methodology can be utilized to create a Report on the Global Walnut market. For the research of economy on the Conditions of study Approaches, these techniques are useful. All of the Information Regarding this Products, makers, vendors, clients and much more is covered in research reports. Various important factors like market trends, revenue Growth patterns market stocks and demand and supply are included in virtually all The market study report for every industry. Adaptation of fresh ideas and Accepting the most recent trends are a few the reasons for virtually any markets growth. The Global Walnut market research report provides the profound understanding about the Regions in which the marketplace is impactful.

For any queries get in touch with Industry Expert @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.co/ask-an-expert/28999

More here:
Rapid Industrialization in Developing Countries to Aid the Growth of the Walnut Market 2019 2029 - 3rd Watch News

TVA offers incentives to businesses, schools that install virus-killing technology – WKRN News 2

Posted on by

The Tennessee Valley Authority is offering incentives to businesses and schools that install virus killing UV technology.

UVC light is a short wavelength ultraviolet light used around the world to disinfect air in hospitals and laboratories. Studies show it is 99.9 percent lethal to bacteria, fungi, viruses and other microorganisms. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, TVA says the same technology is ideal for schools, offices and retail locations to help keep people healthy.

As the largest public power provider in America, a key focus for TVA is helping to keep our children and the public safe by supporting technologies that are proven to kill viruses, said Jason Snyder, manager, TVA EnergyRight. Schools and businesses realize they need solutions to purify indoor air, and we want to help them install it as they reopen.

According to Snyder, a TVA Preferred Partners Network professional can install germicidal lights into the ductwork of many existing commercial HVAC systems. Customers who use TVAs provider network can receive a $30 per ton incentive toward the adoption of approved UV technologies that directly combat COVID-19.

Contact your local power company or visit TVAs websitehttps://energyright.com/business-industry/incentives/for more information.

Read the rest here:

TVA offers incentives to businesses, schools that install virus-killing technology - WKRN News 2

Microsofts solution to Zoom fatigue is to trick your brain – MIT Technology Review

Posted on by

Very rarely are you standing two feet away from a person and staring at them for an hour like that, unless youre getting in conflict or about to mate, he says. When you have faces staring at you like this, the arousal response kicks in, that fight-or-flight mode. If youre in fight-or-flight mode all day, its taxing to do these meetings.

Microsoft hopes Together Mode will make videoconferencing feel less taxing. In Zooms gallery mode, for example, it can be hard to figure out who is speaking and who wants to speak. Together Mode solves this, in theory, by putting a participant in the same seat on everyones screen. That means if a person pipes up in the upper right hand corner of the virtual room, everyones gaze moves at about the same time to focus on that person; if someone interrupts from the middle, heads and eyes shift in that direction. In internal tests, Microsoft claims, users felt less fatigued and more focused in Together Mode.

But whether Together Mode encourages quieter or often ignored members of a team to speak up is yet to be seen. Despite the promise of a more democratic virtual platform, women have had a more difficult time making their voices heard. Teams, Meet, and Zoom have all incorporated a hand-raising function to help, and guides for supporting female colleagues in this setting have become increasingly common.

I think Together Mode gives people the tools to do better, but it doesnt guarantee people will be better, says Jaron Lanier, a research scientist at Microsoft whos considered a world expert in mixed reality.

Another nagging issue is, well, your face. In a demo, I found myself trying to adjust my seating so that I would not appear too big or too small, something Lanier claims is helpful in democratizing participation. But it meant I often lost track of the discussion as I self-consciously corrected my posture. And perhaps self-consciousness is the root of the problem to begin with.

The ideal technology would let you disappear so you would stop being aware of yourself, says Amber Davisson, an associate professor of communication at Keene State College. Davisson, who researches the intersection of intimacy, communication, and technology, says the way videoconferencing tries to emulate meetings contrasts with how humans normallyinteract.

When Im sitting in my class and teaching, Im not looking at myself, she says. [Videoconferencing] is anxiety-causing and we can never relax; were way too aware of ourselves. The best technology would eliminate your face so you can look at everyone and they can look at you, and you dont see yourself.

One thing Davisson says is working in Together Modes favor is the non-personal background and predictable seating layout. Personalized Zoom backgrounds can be fun, but Davisson says having an agreed-upon, bland background like the ones offered by Together Mode eliminates the brains confusion of personal and professional.

That conceptof delineating work and home as the two spaces coalesceis ultimately the challenge of videoconferencing during a pandemic. We need a safe place to fall apart, and we used to think that was home, she says. But we do work and school in our homes now. Our only private space has been invaded, and its a lot for our brains to compute.

See original here:

Microsofts solution to Zoom fatigue is to trick your brain - MIT Technology Review

Boost in Technology Driving the Traffic Management Systems Market Globally – 3rd Watch News

Posted on by

Global Information & Communication Technologies (ICT) Sector Outlook

The global digital ecosystem has been continuously evolving over the last few years. The worldwide ICT sector has witnessed some key disruptions of late and governments of various economies are devising and implementing smart and inclusive regulations to govern sector penetration and facilitate technology connectivity to all parts of the world. Even as the world of technology prepares for a massive revolution with unimaginable advancements powered by machine intelligence, here are some of the key drifts presently trending the global ICT sector:

To get the sample copy of report visit @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-6469

Research Methodology

FMI utilizes robust methodology and approach to arrive at market size and related projections. The research methodology for this report is based on 3 dimensional model. We conduct about 45-60 min duration detailed interviews with product manufacturers; apart from this we also collect market feedback from industry experts. To validate this data, we interact with senior panel members having more than 10 years of experience in relevant field. The panel members help in validating the findings and fill the gaps if any. In addition, we leverage on our existing pool of information, paid database and other valid information sources available in public domain. Usually industry interactions extend to more than 50+ interviews from market participants across the value chain.

Data Collection

FMI collects data from secondary sources including company annual reports, association publications, industry presentations, white papers, and company press releases apart from these we leverage over paid database subscriptions and industry magazines to collect market information and developments in exhaustive manner. After being done with desk research, detailed questionnaire and discussion guide is formulated to initiate primary research with key industry personnel; the discussion aims at collecting key insights, growth perspectives, prevalent market trends and quantitative insights including market size and competition developments. Both of these research approaches help us in arriving at base year numbers and market hypothesis.

Download Methodology of this Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-6469Data Validation

In this phase, FMI validates the data using macro and micro economic factors. For instance, growth in electricity consumption, industry value added, other industry factors, economic performance, growth of top players and sector performance is closely studied to arrive at precise estimates and refine anomalies if any.

Data Analysis and Projection

Data analysis and projections were made based on proprietary research frameworks and statistical analysis, which was further validated from industry participants. These frameworks include Y-o-Y growth projections, macro-economic factor performance, market attractiveness analysis, key financial ratios, and others.

For public companies we capture the data from company website, annual reports, investor presentations, paid databases. While for privately held companies, we try to gather information from the paid databases (like Factiva) and based on the information we gather from databases we estimate revenue for the companies. In addition, the team tries to establish primary contact with the companies in order to validate the assumptions or to gather quality inputs.

Standard Report Structure

Request for Covid-19 Impact Analysis @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/covid19/rep-gb-6469Target Audience

Market Taxonomy

The global traffic management system market has been segmented into the following:

Go here to see the original:

Boost in Technology Driving the Traffic Management Systems Market Globally - 3rd Watch News

Micron Waste Completes Acquisition of Covid Technologies and Appoints Harveer Singh Sidhu to Board of Directors – Canada NewsWire

Posted on by

VANCOUVER, BC, July 10, 2020 /CNW/ -Micron Waste Technologies Inc. ("Micron" or the "Company") (CSE: MWM) (OTC: MICWF) (Frankfurt: 7FM2) (OTCQB: MICWF), is pleased to announce that, further to its news releases on April 20, 2020, and May 19, 2020, the Company has completed the acquisition (the "Acquisition") of all of the issued and outstanding shares of Covid Technologies Inc. ("Covid Technologies") pursuant to the terms of a share exchange agreement, effective May 18, 2020 (the "Definitive Agreement") among the Company, Covid Technologies, and the securityholders of Covid Technologies.

Pursuant to the terms of the Definitive Agreement and in consideration of the Acquisition, the Company issued to the former Covid Technologies securityholders:

Additionally, effective upon closing of the Acquisition, Harveer Singh Sidhu was appointed to the Company's board of directors.

About Covid Technologies

Covid Technologies is preparing to deliver much needed personal protective equipment ("PPE") by providing Canadian-made, high quality, vapour barrier technology (masks, protective garments), that provide protection from biological hazards, pathogens, and suberbugs.

About Micron

Micron is a well-funded industrial/technology company with a manufacturing facility in Delta, BC. Micron is currently developing waste digesters using proprietary technology. Micron's waste digester business is focused on the cannabis and food industry with its Cannivore, Organivore and Pharmavore waste digesters. The Company will continue its research and development of its waste digester business alongside its PPE manufacturing business.

Micron is a public company with listings on the CSE: MWM, OTC: MICWF, and in Frankfurt: 7FM2.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

"Kal Malhi"

Kal Malhi, Chairman

The Canadian Stock Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS:The forward-looking information contained in this press release is made as of the date of this press release and, except as required by applicable law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. By its very nature, such forward-looking information requires the Company to make assumptions that may not materialize or that may not be accurate. This forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, levels of activity and achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such information.

SOURCE Micron Waste Technologies Inc.

For further information: Kal Malhi, [emailprotected]

https://micronwaste.com

Read more:

Micron Waste Completes Acquisition of Covid Technologies and Appoints Harveer Singh Sidhu to Board of Directors - Canada NewsWire

Work from home in Barbados: Caribbean island considering Barbados Welcome Stamp to let tourists work there remotely for 12 months – The Scotsman

Posted on by

LifestyleTravelWork from home in Barbados: Caribbean island considering Barbados Welcome Stamp to let tourists work there remotely for 12 months

Friday, 10th July 2020, 2:35 pm

The Barbados government has come up with a plan to help its tourism industry while giving UK residents the chance to escape the new daily routine of working from home.

The Caribbean island says it will offer British nationals who work remotely the chance to make Barbados their home for a year, under a new Barbados Welcome Stamp scheme.

Prime Minister Mia Mottley created the scheme to increase the country's GDP and boost the tourism industry on the island.

When will the scheme start?

The scheme is in the first stages of development and therefore hasn't been finalised yet.

Mottley has also not yet revealed when the scheme will be open for applicants, so those who are interested will need to keep their eyes peeled.

However, Barbados will start welcoming international travellers from Sunday 12 July.

Those who choose to visit the island will have to undergo mandatory tests for Covid-19 upon arrival and will need to isolate until the test results are provided.

How would the scheme work?

The initiative would allow international arrivals to live on the island while working remotely at their current jobs.

Prime Minister Mia Mottley said the Barbados Welcome Stamp scheme would allow persons to come and work from here overseas, digitally so, so that persons dont need to remain in the countries in which they are.

However those who wish to make Barbados their permanent home, will have to do so in another way, as the scheme only permits you to remain on the island for 12 months.

How has Barbados handled the coronavirus crisis?

If you love the idea of spending your work days on the beach, rather than the sofa, but are worried about the safety aspects of living in Barbados, here are some reassuring facts:

The number of coronavirus cases and fatalities is extremely low in comparison to that of the UK, with only 98 recorded infections and seven deaths.

Safety measures currently in place to protect the country, include mandatory face masks for all incoming visitors as well as coronavirus testing at the airports.

Barbados has now relaxed some of its restrictions and lifted its curfews.

It is now allowing social events with up to 500 people, as well as spectator sporting events, however it has introduced social distancing rules whereby people must remain at least three feet apart.

The UK government included Barbados in its list of approved nations announced last week, meaning that tourists arriving in the UK from the Carribean island would not need to go into a 14 day quarantine.

Prime Minister Mottley said in a statement, "You don't need to work in Europe, or the US or Latin America if you can come here and work for a couple months at a time; go back and come back.

"The government is committed to working with you on the promotion of new concepts like the 12-month Barbados Welcome Stamp, being able to open our borders to persons travelling and making it as hospitable as ever for all of us, and making it available for Barbadians from every walk of life to believe that for special occasions, or just for so, that they can come out and be a part of this wonderful exercise."

See the original post:

Work from home in Barbados: Caribbean island considering Barbados Welcome Stamp to let tourists work there remotely for 12 months - The Scotsman

New Pirates of the Caribbean Movie Will Reference Johnny Depp and Captain Jack Sparrow on One Condition – GameRant

Posted on by

Disney will allow the new Pirates of the Caribbean movies to reference Captain Jack Sparrow and Johnny Depp if the actor's current press dies down.

Back in 2018, UK publisher The Sun described Johnny Depp known best for playingCaptain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean as a "wife-beater" in one of their prints. It did so in reference to accusations Depp's ex-wife Amber Heard threw at him during their infamous divorce back in 2015-2017. Depp decided to retaliate against this by suing The Sun, and his libel case begins this week.

Amidst all of this, Disney has announced that it has plans to create anewPirates of the Caribbeanmovie starring Margot Robbie. The film will feature an all-female main cast and be completely separate from the previously announced Pirates of the Caribbean reboot helmed by the series original writer, Ted Elliott.

RELATED:Birds of Prey Director Cathy Yan Fought to Keep Controversial Scene in the Film

Jerry Bruckheimer, the producer of the originalPirates of the Caribbeantrilogy and its two sequels, would like to reference Johnny Depp and Sparrow in the upcoming Margot Robbie spin-off. But Disney is apparently hesitating in allowing it because of Depp's past being in the spotlight again. It seems the company will only give the green light if Depp's press dies down a bit.

It's worth noting that Amber Heard is on tape admitting that she's the one who abusedJohnny Depp. Overall, the situation is somewhat similar to that of James Gunn's when he was under fire for some questionable tweets he made in the past. Disney felt it needed to distance itself from Gunn because of the controversy surrounding him. Hopefully, Depp will get the chance to move on the same way Gunn was allowed to.

MORE:Birds of Prey Director Reveals Which Batman Villain Will Join Harley Quinn in Potential Sequel

Source: Hollywood Reporter

Batman Gotham Knights Title Leak May Solidify Other Rumors

For as long as his terrible memory can recall, Jametrious has had a love for the art of storytelling and its resulting creations. His passions led him to Full Sail University, where studying and producing creative media allowed him to goof his way to a BFA in Creative Writing. Now a certified professional man-child, Jametrious spends his time playing and writing about video games. He favors action-RPGs over most, but hell pretty much play anything that features mindless action wrapped up in an intriguing story. You can follow him on twitter @J_Broson for updates.

More:

New Pirates of the Caribbean Movie Will Reference Johnny Depp and Captain Jack Sparrow on One Condition - GameRant

Covid-19 vaccine trials: Here’s how to volunteer – CNN

Posted on by

The website will handle registration for the four large vaccine studies that are expected to start this summer and fall, and any others that follow.

The US Department of Health and Human Services announced the website Wednesday, along with the appointment of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle as the coordinating center for vaccine clinical trials run by the Covid-19 Prevention Network, which is funded by the National Institutes of Health.

"That's the target, but those target dates move up and down. They won't let a site start until they're absolutely ready. Some could start on July 27, and others on August 8," del Rio said.

Despite the delay, the Covid-19 vaccine trials are moving at an unprecedented speed, as researchers try to accomplish in months what usually takes years.

Del Rio said he enrolls six or seven study subjects a week in a typical clinical trial, but for the Covid vaccine trial he'll try to enroll that number in a day. Eventually, he aims to have a total of 750 study subjects at three Atlanta-area sites.

He noted that he still has not yet received approval from Emory's Institutional Review Board to begin the trial, a requirement before moving forward.

"This is the most complicated research study I've ever done, and we need to do it in record time," del Rio said, noting that he is still hiring staff and securing facilities for the trial.

Dr. Richard Novak, another clinical trial veteran agrees.

"I've been doing vaccine trials for 25 years, but this is the largest I've ever committed to and I just don't have enough staff and I don't have enough space," said Novak, who will be leading the Moderna trial at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

What researchers are looking for

On the new website, anyone interested in joining a vaccine study can fill out a quick questionnaire.

There will be more than 100 sites in the United States and abroad, and after registering on the website, your information will be sent to the study site closest to you.

Several of the questions are designed to assess how likely you are to become infected and sick with Covid-19, including your race, what kind of work you do and how many people you come into contact with on a daily basis.

Based on those answers, you might be rejected. People who don't get out much, and who wear a mask when they do leave home, would not make the best study subjects.

That's because the point of the study is to see if the vaccine protects people from getting sick with Covid-19. If people who mostly stay home get vaccinated, and they don't get sick with Covid-19, it's hard to know if the vaccine protected them or if their lifestyle kept them away from the virus in the first place.

That's why researchers are looking for people in communities that have been hardest hit by coronavirus.

"We need people who are black and brown and representative of harder hit communities by the pandemic," said Dr. Carl Fichtenbaum, medical director of the Moderna trial at University of Cincinnati Health.

The doctors say they'll recruit at churches and other organizations in those communities, as well as in workplaces such as factories and meatpacking plants where workers are at high risk of getting sick with Covid-19.

The researchers are also aiming to have 40% of the study subjects over age 65 or with underlying conditions, such as hypertension, lung disease, diabetes and morbid obesity, since they're more likely to become ill with Covid-19, Novak said.

Tens of thousands of volunteers needed

Moderna has finished a safety trial with more than 100 study subjects, but it has not yet published the results. These later phase trials monitor safety and focus on whether the vaccine protects against becoming ill from the coronavirus.

Novak said volunteers for the Moderna trial will receive two injections spaced a month apart. About half the study volunteers will receive two doses of the vaccine, and the other half will receive placebos -- a shot that has no therapeutic value. Neither the doctors nor the volunteers will know who's getting which shot.

The volunteers will have appointments seven times throughout the two-year course of the study, where they will have blood drawn and their noses swabbed to check for Covid-19 infection.

Volunteers will keep a weekly diary of their symptoms and will speak on the phone with study staff to discuss how they're feeling.

"It has to be done really meticulously, because that's a key part of clinical research," Novak said. "The data has to be impeccable."

Either way, tens of thousands of volunteers will need to step up for the studies.

"I want to emphasize to people that you will be part of something special, even if the answer is that this does not work," Fichtenbaum said. "That's a very important scientific answer because we need to know what works [and] what won't work."

CNN's John Bonifield and Dana Vigue contributed to this story.

Visit link:

Covid-19 vaccine trials: Here's how to volunteer - CNN

COVID-19 Daily Update 7-11-2020 – 5 PM – West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources

Posted on by

The West Virginia Department of Health andHuman Resources (DHHR) reports as of 5:00 p.m., on July 11,2020, there have been 204,914 total confirmatorylaboratory results received for COVID-19, with 4,146 totalcases and 96 deaths.

DHHR has confirmed the death of a 68-yearold female from Ohio County. Itis with great sadness that we report the loss of this West Virginian and sendcondolences to her family, said Bill J. Crouch, DHHR Cabinet Secretary.

Inalignment with updated definitions from the Centers for Disease Control andPrevention, the dashboard includes probable cases which are individuals that havesymptoms and either serologic (antibody) or epidemiologic (e.g., a link to aconfirmed case) evidence of disease, but no confirmatory test.

CASESPER COUNTY (Case confirmed by lab test/Probable case):Barbour(19/0), Berkeley (512/19), Boone (33/0), Braxton (5/0), Brooke (23/1), Cabell(192/6), Calhoun (4/0), Clay (12/0), Fayette (79/0), Gilmer (13/0), Grant(18/1), Greenbrier (71/0), Hampshire (42/0), Hancock (38/3), Hardy (45/1),Harrison (115/0), Jackson (148/0), Jefferson (248/5), Kanawha (398/12), Lewis(21/1), Lincoln (9/0), Logan (36/0), Marion (105/3), Marshall (62/1), Mason(24/0), McDowell (8/0), Mercer (62/0), Mineral (63/2), Mingo (28/2), Monongalia(510/14), Monroe (14/1), Morgan (19/1), Nicholas (20/1), Ohio (140/0),Pendleton (15/1), Pleasants (4/1), Pocahontas (36/1), Preston (77/16), Putnam(85/1), Raleigh (73/3), Randolph (185/2), Ritchie (2/0), Roane (12/0), Summers(2/0), Taylor (22/1), Tucker (6/0), Tyler (10/0), Upshur (24/1), Wayne (123/1),Webster (1/0), Wetzel (34/0), Wirt (6/0), Wood (175/9), Wyoming (7/0).

Ascase surveillance continues at the local health department level, it may revealthat those tested in a certain county may not be a resident of that county, oreven the state as an individual in question may have crossed the state borderto be tested. Such is the case of Brooke, Jefferson,McDowell, and Preston counties in this report.

Please visit the dashboard at http://www.coronavirus.wv.gov for more detailed information.

Additional report:

Toincrease COVID-19 testing opportunities, the Governor's Office, the HerbertHenderson Office of Minority Affairs, WV Department of Health and HumanResources, WV National Guard, local health departments, and community partners providedfree COVID-19 testing for residents in counties with high minority populationsand evidence of COVID-19 transmission.

The two-day testing resulted in 5,826 individuals tested: 807in Marshall County; 262 in Mercer County; 2,955 in Monongalia County; 730 inPreston County; 301 in Wayne County; and 771 in Upshur County. Please notethese are considered preliminary numbers.

See original here:

COVID-19 Daily Update 7-11-2020 - 5 PM - West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources