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Write Again … Mysteries of life – Washington Daily News – thewashingtondailynews.com

Posted on May 3, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

For those of us so fortunate, so blessed, to have been on this journey for quite a spell, wondering why weve been allowed this longevity, and so many others havent, is only natural.

Is this by design of some higher power? Or is it caprice? Now, we could discuss and debate this from scientific or religious perspectives, as have just about all who have come before us probably have done. Most would come to an answer based on their own background as Albert Camus wrote: We do not see things as they are. We see things as we are.

About the only way I manage to grapple with such mind-bending mysteries is to acknowledge that the only one who knows such things is our Maker. Well, and maybe one county commissioner, who seems to know just about everything there is to know. It must be a burden to be smarter than everyone else. I wouldnt know, for Ive never had to worry about that.

As the renowned modern-day philosopher, Skybo, says, A mind is a terrible thing. It certainly can be.

But I digress. Getting back to my original question about one of the mysteries of life: By design, or caprice?

Maybe we should really focus on the how long? We can affect the former, but, for most of us, well leave the latter to another power source outside ourselves.

It would perhaps be logical to assume that many, perhaps most, of us have at the very least thought a bit more about our own mortality and about that of family members and friends during this time of the Big V. A palpable angst, for want of a better word, seems to hover about. The news media keep it before us, rightly so, but one can become supersaturated with concern. Just human nature, I suppose.

Minimizing human contact doesnt come easily to most of us. Those who are very social beings.

All of this rambling, mental peregrinations, probably hasnt offered one thing you havent thought about, or pondered.

So. What, if anything, might I offer, suggest, in closing, that might be of any value?

Not being erudite, nor having anything even close to exceptional intellect, all I might add, however unoriginal, is to simply love, or continue to love. People. Animals. Nature. If you are conventionally religious, your maker.

In that vein, please let me leave you with an excerpt from a fairly recent obituary in our paper.

Pure love has no conditions. It does not restrain itself or hold back. Love is a continuous flow without limits and has a sole intention of bringing people together in a time called forever.

A time called forever.

What a beautiful, hopeful, didactic perspective.

To that we might truly say, Amen.

Peace.

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Write Again ... Mysteries of life - Washington Daily News - thewashingtondailynews.com

Combination Of Fasting Diet And Vitamin C Could Help Tough Cancer Treatment: Study – NDTV Food

Posted on May 14, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

The combination, according to the scientists help delayed tumour progression in mice

Previous studies have hinted at the link between diet and cancer treatment, according to the latest one published in the journal Nature Communications, afasting-mimicking diet could be more effective at treating some types of cancer when combined with vitamin C. The study was conducted by the scientists from USC and the IFOM Cancer Institute in Milan.

The combination, according to the scientists help delayed tumour progression in multiple mouse models of colorectal cancer; whereas in some mice, it caused disease regression.

"For the first time, we have demonstrated how a completely non-toxic intervention can effectively treat an aggressive cancer," said Valter Longo, the study senior author and the director of the USC Longevity Institute at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology and professor of biological sciences at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.

"We have taken two treatments that are studied extensively as interventions to delay ageing-- a fasting-mimicking diet and vitamin C -- and combined them as a powerful treatment for cancer," added Longo.

While it is a challenge for many cancer patients to fast, a much safer option would be a low-calorie, plant-based diet that causes cells to respond as if the body were fasting, according to the researchers.

A low-toxicity treatment of fasting-mimicking diet plus vitamin C may have the potential to replace more toxic treatments, the findings suggested.

Recent studies have pointed at the efficacy of vitamin C in battling cancer, especially if it is combined with a potent treatment.

Through this new study, the research team tried to investigate whether a fasting-mimicking diet could enhance the high-dose vitamin C tumour-fighting action by creating an environment that would be unsustainable for cancer cells but still safe for normal cells.

"Our first in vitro experiment showed remarkable effects. When used alone, fasting-mimicking diet or vitamin C alone reduced cancer cell growth and caused a minor increase in cancer cell death. But when used together, they had a dramatic effect, killing almost all cancerous cells," said Longo.

The study also provided clues about why previous studies of vitamin C as a potential anticancer therapy showed limited efficacy. By itself, a vitamin C treatment appears to trigger the KRAS-mutated cells to protect cancer cells by increasing levels of ferritin, a protein that binds iron.

During their investigation, scientists reduced levels of ferritin, which helped them increase vitamin C's toxicity for the cancer cells. And with this finding, they were also able discover that colorectal cancer patients with high levels of the iron-binding protein have a lower chance of survival.

"In this study, we observed how fasting-mimicking diet cycles are able to increase the effect of pharmacological doses of vitamin C against KRAS-mutated cancers," said Maira Di Tano, a study co-author at the IFOM, FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology in Milan, Italy.

"This occurs through the regulation of the levels of iron and of the molecular mechanisms involved in oxidative stress. The results particularly pointed to a gene that regulates iron levels: heme-oxygenase-1," added Tano.

The research team's prior studies have shown slow progression rate due to fast mimicking diet, making chemotherapy more effective in tumour cells while protecting normal cells from chemotherapy-associated side effects.

However, they stressed upon the fact that the combination of the diet with vitamin C enhances the immune system's anti-tumour response in breast cancer and melanoma mouse models.

The team's goal was to study if the non-toxic combination interventions would work in mice, and that it would look promising for human clinical trials.The team is now investigating the effects of the fasting-mimicking diets in combination with different cancer-fighting drugs.

(This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.)

A recession devastates peoples lives. But there are surprising health benefits when capitalism stops working – The Guardian

Posted on May 3, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

A major economic downturn, like the one we now face, devastates the lives of ordinary people. We lose our jobs, our homes and our futures. Yet, statistically, the recessions that shatter our dreams also improve health and increase longevity.

It sounds crazy but its true.

In the 1920s, economists William F Ogburn and Dorothy S Thomas first noted mortality rates decreased during recessions. In subsequent research, Thomas confirmed their initial findings, writing that in both England and the USA, a high death rate is associated with periods of prosperity and a low death rate with periods of [economic] depression.

This counterintuitive trend has been noted by researchers ever since.

In 1977, for instance, Joseph Eyer published a paper strikingly titled Prosperity as a Cause of Death.

The general death rate rises during business booms, he said flatly, and falls during depressions.

More recently, Veronica Toffolutti and Marc Suhrcke analysed data from 23 countries and concluded that an increase in the unemployment rate during the Great Recession [or GFC] has had a beneficial health effect on average across EU countries.

In an interview for the Brooklyn Rail, economist Jos Tapia explains that recessions change how we live. With overtime and working hours as a whole cut back, people can sleep more and take more exercise. They smoke and drink less; they relax more; they spend less time with dangerous industrial equipment.

The reduced numbers of people driving (either to work or for work) lowers the road toll and disperses carcinogenic fumes. Other researchers have argued that recessions might bring people together to support each other creating strong social networks that foster better health.

But if booms tend to foster, as Toffolutti and Suhrcke say, mostly adverse health consequences, that doesnt mean we should welcome economic crashes.

On the contrary, the equally robust relationship between unemployment and suicide illustrates just how traumatic recessions can be. If we cant afford alcohol and tobacco we might live longer but poverty-induced restrictions do not bring happiness, any more than the prolonged lifespan of captive animals induces enthusiasm for cages.

Nevertheless, the link between recession and longevity should encourage us to think about our economy and its logic.

The pioneer sociologist Max Weber pointed out that, until very recently, even the most exploitative labour had been given meaning by complex webs of human relationships. Its only with capitalism, Weber says, that:

Economic acquisition is no longer subordinated to man as the means for the satisfaction of his material needs. This reversal of what we should call the natural relationship, so irrational from a naive point of view, is evidently as definitely a leading principle of capitalism as it is foreign to all peoples not under capitalistic influence.

For instance, Indigenous people, who typically devoted no more than three or four hours each day to seeking food, found the European system of wage labour utterly incomprehensible.

It wasnt simply the long hours of the British working day that appalled them but also the notion of work stripped of ceremony, meaning and purpose astonished Indigenous people. Henry Reynolds describes how the historical record bristles with colonists complaints about their problems in trying to get Aborigines to behave as voluntary labourers for wages.

They do not court a life of labour, explained a Victorian Justice of the Peace of the Indigenous people he knew in 1849. [T]hat of our shepherds and hut-keepers our splitters or bullock drivers appears to them one of unmeaning toil, and they would by no means consent to exchange their free unhoused condition for the monotonous drudgery of such a dreary existence.

That attitude was not a peculiar quirk of Indigenous society.

In Europe, too, the normalisation of the wage system depended on massive violence: in essence, the forcible dispossession of people from their traditional holdings, so that they had no choice but to seek an employer. Even then, the early industrialists complained (in a language very similar to that used by white settlers about Indigenous people) of how their new employees still yearned for the old customs that had once given their lives meaning.

The factory owner Samuel Greg Junior vented about the restless and migratory spirit of his workers; the entrepreneur Thomas Arkwright bemoaned the difficulty in training staff to renounce their desultory habits of work and identify themselves with the unvarying regularity of the complex automaton.

If Arkwright was indifferent to the human desires of his staff, he also didnt care about those who bought his products except insofar as they paid him. Where feudalism rests on rights and obligations, a capitalist factory relates to the world through money.

Furthermore, that money or, at least, most of it must get ploughed back into the business, since competition means companies that dont reinvest fall behind their rivals.

With every business driven to expand or die, growth becomes the paramount imperative. Its only under capitalism that indefinite economic increase becomes both conceivable (since money can always grow) and necessary (since without expansion the system begins to fall apart).

Experts say the recession associated with Covid-19 might mean the biggest drop in demand for fossil fuels on record, with lockdown conditions drastically slashing air and passenger transport.

Yet this significant decline in greenhouse gases does not constitute good environmental news, since the crisis will almost certainly derail what was, until recently, a burgeoning momentum for climate action.

Governments previously under pressure to respond to global warming will instead devote themselves single-mindedly to restarting their economies and, once the wheels of industry begin spinning, emission levels will recommence their inexorable climb.

The degradation of labour and the degradation of the planet emerge from a similar source: an economic system that strips any control of production from ordinary people and instead operates according to a logic of relentless and destructive accumulation.

Without constant growth, capitalism descends into crisis. Yet the carcinogenic expansion on which our prosperity depends places more and more strain on our world and, indeed, on us.

Global Precision Medicine Software Market Growth and Forecast Research 2020-2027 Cole Reports – Cole of Duty

Posted on May 3, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Globalmarketers.biz recently added a detailed research study focused on the Global Precision Medicine Software Market across the global, regional and country level. The report provides 360 analysis of Market from view of manufacturers, regions, product types and end industries. The research report analyses and provides the historical data along with current performance of the global Precision Medicine Software market and estimates the future trend of industry on the basis of this detailed study.

Request a sample Report :https://www.globalmarketers.biz/report/others/2015-2027-global-precision-medicine-software-industry-market-research-report,-segment-by-player,-type,-application,-marketing-channel,-and-region/146709#request_sample

The Major Players are:

Abbott Laboratories(US)Syapse, Inc. (US)Roper Technologies(US)Sunquest Information Systems Inc. (US)Pfizer, Inc., Merck & Co., Inc.(US)N-of-One, Inc. (US)NantHealth, Inc. (US)LifeOmic Health, LLC (US)Fabric Genomics (US)Allscripts(US)GlaxoSmithKline plc(UK)Gene42, Inc. (Canada)Foundation Medicine, Inc. (US)Koninklijke Philips N.V. (Netherlands)PierianDx, Inc. (US)Translational Software, Inc. (US)Flatiron Health, Inc. (US)IBM Watson Group (US)Sanofi S.A.(France)Tempus Labs, Inc. (US)AstraZeneca plc(US)2bPrecise LLC (Israel)Qiagen(Germany)SOPHiA GENETICS SA (Switzerland)Human Longevity, Inc. (US)

The latest research study on the Precision Medicine Software market is a pivotal collection of insights pertaining to this industry vertical, with respect to certain parameters. The research report focuses on providing an in-depth synopsis of this industry, specifically illuminating the market industry size and share, application bifurcation, product types, as well as novel opportunities in the business space.

Segmentation Overview:

Product Type Segmentation :

Cloud-basedOn-premise

Application Segmentation :

Healthcare providersResearch centers & Government institutesPharmaceutical & Biotechnology companiesOther end users

Make an Inquiry About This Report @ https://www.globalmarketers.biz/report/others/2015-2027-global-precision-medicine-software-industry-market-research-report,-segment-by-player,-type,-application,-marketing-channel,-and-region/146709#inquiry_before_buying

Driving Forces as well as Challenges of the Precision Medicine Software market: How does the study elaborate on the same?

The report entails the various drivers and restraints impacting the commercialization landscape of the Precision Medicine Software market.

The Precision Medicine Software market research report illustrates details about the myriad challenges which this industry presents. Also, the impact that these challenges may have on the overall industry trends.

Significant details revealed in the report also fall along the likes of market concentration ratio over the forecast years.

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The geographical spectrum of the business as well as its influence on the overall Precision Medicine Software market outlook:

With respect to the regional frame of reference, the report segments the Precision Medicine Software market into USA, Europe, Japan, China, India, South East Asia.

Pivotal insights about the product consumption across numerous regions are provided. The revenue recorded by these topographies have been included in the study.

The study explains details about the consumption market share spanning the numerous geographies. It is also inclusive of the market share that these regions accrue over the forecast period, as well as the product consumption growth rate.

For More Details On this Report:

Some of the Major Highlights of TOC covers:

Executive Summary

Global Precision Medicine Software Production Growth Rate Comparison by Types (2015-2027)

Global Precision Medicine Software Consumption Comparison by Applications (2015-2027)

Global Precision Medicine Software Revenue (2015-2027)

Global Precision Medicine Software Production (2015-2027)

North America Precision Medicine Software Status and Prospect (2015-2027)

Europe Precision Medicine Software Status and Prospect (2015-2027)

China Precision Medicine Software Status and Prospect (2015-2027)

Japan Precision Medicine Software Status and Prospect (2015-2027)

Southeast Asia Precision Medicine Software Status and Prospect (2015-2027)

India Precision Medicine Software Status and Prospect (2015-2027)

Check Table of Contents of This Report @ https://www.globalmarketers.biz/report/others/2015-2027-global-precision-medicine-software-industry-market-research-report,-segment-by-player,-type,-application,-marketing-channel,-and-region/146709#table_of_contents

Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis

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Global Precision Medicine Software Market Growth and Forecast Research 2020-2027 Cole Reports - Cole of Duty

Soul Survivor: Wisdom from a TSU professor who went to work for 70 yearsuntil COVID-19 – TMC News – Texas Medical Center News

Posted on May 3, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

For the first time in 70 years, 100-year-old professor Thomas Freeman cannot go to work at Texas Southern University.

A global pandemic has done what nothing else could: Forced him to stay at home.

Freeman was the ever-present elder of the TSU debate team until COVID-19 closed the university in Houstons Third Ward as well as most college campuses across the country.

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Over the years, some of Freemans students have earned great renown for their oratorical skills. Early in his career, while teaching a religion class at Morehouse College in Atlanta in the late 1940s, one of his students was a young man named Martin Luther King, Jr. Upon arriving at TSU, Freeman helped a bright, young woman harness the power of her voice. That student was Barbara Jordan, who would become the first Black woman from the South elected to Congress. When preparing for his role as a forensics professor in The Great Debaters film, two-time Academy Award winner Denzel Washington traveled to Houston to consult with Freeman.

Now, the coach emeritus of the debate team he founded in 1949 waits at home bored and wanting to be with the students, according to Gloria Batiste-Roberts, DPH, Freemans former student and successor as director and debate coach at what is now called the T.F. Freeman Center for Forensic Excellence.

At a prolonged time of COVID-19 uncertainty, illness and death, Freeman shares his life experience on overcoming adversity, achieving longevity and devoting time to meaningful endeavors.

Thomas Franklin Freeman, Ph.D., who was born in 1919, turns 101 in June.

Q | Has involvement with students for many decades contributed to your longevity?

A | Im not so sure that it has contributed to the longevity. I am reasonably sure that it has contributed to my continuous activity. Because I have this to do, I have a reason for existence. Whether that has contributed to longevity, I dont know, but it definitely is a factor. Senility would have set in had I not continued my activity. Continuous activity means muscles are in use and continue development.

Q | How have the students benefited from your longevity?

A | The older you grow, the greater your chances of making valuable contributions to those who are coming along who could not even imagine what you have experienced. Sharing with them helps them lift themselves out of some situations through which you have already gone.

Q | Most people will succumb, ultimately, to heart disease, accidents or cancer. How have you avoided those to become a centenarian?

A | I dont think I have avoided those three things. I think I have avoided the consequences of those three things. The human body is subject to attacks and somehow is not destroyed. I have prevailed by the grace and mercy of God.

Q | You dont drink alcohol or smoke, do you?

A | I am not a smoking man. Im not a drinking man. I am not a carousing man.

Q | Do you think that accounts, even in part, for your long life?

A | I dont know. Im from a family of longevity. My dad lived to be 95. My mother, 87. I have one sister left and she is 82. There were 15 of us and only two left.

Q | What advice do you have for people who want to live a long time?

A | A lot of things that are happening are not under our control. What we need to do as a society is to return to moral values as a basis for good lives. As families, we have to rebuild the moral structure so one has a guide to determine behavior. That starts in the home. Train up a child in the way that they should go.

Q | Do you do any particular exercises?

A | My wife tries to get me to walk and I say, Ill walk when Im going somewhere. Somebody gave me a stationary bike, but I dont use it.

Q | Do you have a special diet?

A | Whatever my wife serves, I eat. She happens to be a good cook and wants to do it. I have a well-balanced meal every time I sit at the table.

Q | Your wife, Mrs. Clarice Freeman, is in her 90s?

A | Yes, 99. [She turns 100 in August.]

Q | How long have you been married?

A | It will be 67 years in 2020. [They wed in 1953.] Three children; four grandchildren.

Q | How has working as a professor and as a minister enhanced your contribution to both education and faith?

A | Its like the left hand and the right hand. Without one, you couldnt do as much. One balances the other. Ive been pastoring for 69 years and Ive been at TSU for 70 years.

Q | From the perspective of what we now call brain health, how do you keep your mind sharp?

A | The activity that is transpiring now is a part of that. I interact with people. Without interaction, there would be stagnation. If I sat here all day long and looked at the chair, we would get nowhere. With a person sitting in the chair, there is an interaction.

Q | How does it feel to be a centenarian?

A | I can hardly believe that I am 100 years old. [Laughs heartily.]

This conversation is a compilation of two interviews, one from 2019 and another from earlier this year, between Freeman and TMC Pulse Assistant Editor Cindy George. The responses have been edited for clarity and length.

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Soul Survivor: Wisdom from a TSU professor who went to work for 70 yearsuntil COVID-19 - TMC News - Texas Medical Center News

Brown Bear Car Wash drive-thru forced to remain closed – MyNorthwest.com

Posted on May 3, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Brown Bear Car Wash is currently shut down due to the stay-at-home order in place across Washington state. You can grab a coffee, stop by a pot store to pick up weed, and get a burger on your way home, but you cant wash your car in a drive-thru.

Weve contacted Inslees office directly, been in contact with his special assistant, and the response has been dismissive, said Lance Odermat, vice president of Brown Bear, on the Dori Monson Show. They dont want to hear the reasoning or logic, and we have been told that we are to remain closed under no uncertain terms.

Listeners have texted Dori to say that the car wash at the convenience store or gas station near their house is still open. But these open car washes, Odermat said, are in defiance of the governors rules.

Some of them may be able to plead ignorance, but I know for a fact some of our competitors are acutely aware of the directive we received, and theyre choosing to disregard it, he said.

With our longevity in the community, our reputation, Im not gonna burn that, he added. And even though I disagree with the directive, were gonna adhere to the rule of law as its put out by Governor Inslees office.

Odermat did hear that Costcos car wash is now in compliance, though it previously had been open.

Were all waiting anxiously for further direction from Governor Inslee, Odermat said.

At Brown Bear Car Wash, it is possible to get your car washed with no human interaction.

Across our network, weve got these automated pay stations. You dont even have to roll down your window if youre one of our unlimited club members, and thats about half our customer base, Odermat said. Theres no human interaction required, but yet theyve deemed us non-essential.

Odermat also said the Washington State Patrol is one of their largest fleet accounts. Pointing that out to the state did not help, and they were still told they can not open.

Meanwhile, as pollen counts are high and spring weather is in full swing, people are turning to washing cars in their driveway, pushing soap into the storm drains. According to its website, Brown Bear Car Wash promotes eco-friendly practices, uses less water, and ensures that the pollutants on cars do not go into waterways and storm drain systems.

Its not just the environment, its the economy, Odermat said. Were losing huge sums of money and, Ill point out, were keeping everybody on the payroll, and we dont have a single minimum wage job. Every position in our company starts above minimum wage, and were continuing to eat those costs and take care of our people.

Dori: Is Inslee crashing regional economy to get state income tax?

Brown Bear Car Wash was started by Odermats father in 1957.

I think a lot of us in the business community are hanging on and hoping like crazy that theres going to be some relief here today or tomorrow announced in these news conferences, he said. But if the order continues on unchanged, I really fear for the consequences of the local economy.

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Brown Bear Car Wash drive-thru forced to remain closed - MyNorthwest.com

Whos still interested in the Lib Dems? – Shout Out UK

Posted on April 22, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

There may not be a future to come back to for the Lib Dems. Now is the time for planning and policy focus.

The Liberal democrats are in a bad spot at the moment. This isnt an argument. Its pretty much a fact. As recently as three months ago the group was riding a wave of decent success. Claiming a dominant second place in the May European elections, enjoying the highest levels of paid membership in the partys history, successfully negotiating a non-aggression pact with other remain parties and as a result, winning the Brecon and Radnorshire by-election in August and gaining ten MPs that chose to defect from other parties to them.

Most importantly, they established themselves as the main force to represent the Remain voting population of the country. A position that some argue Labour should have adopted in order to defeat the Tories.

This position turned out to be somewhat of a poison chalice to the party.

The December 2019 general election result saw them lose half their MPs, including all of the ones that defected from other parties. They also lost their leader, Jo Swinson in a close defeat to the SNP.

The concentrated support they needed to win seats in the UK Parliament simply wasnt there. The proportional representation from the European Parliament election suited them much better and created a false mentality that such success could be repeated domestically.

More than three months on, It could be argued that there was one main thing that the Lib Dems shouldnt have done after the collapse.

That one thing is: Nothing.

They couldnt afford to fade back into political irrelevance. To once again become unknown to the majority who dont have the time or interest to follow politics on a regular basis.

The question now is where do they go from here to rebuild and get back to the heights they were at during the coalition government?

The easiest thing for the party to do would be to stick to the main policy that grew their membership to what it is today over the last four or five years. By focusing on Britains relationship with the European union.

Rejoining the European Union for Britain is pretty much out of the question at this point. At least not for another generation when the party could push for a referendum on rejoining. Thats assuming that in thirty years or so the EU or some similar organisation still exists. This isnt a viable option for the longevity of the party or even a short-term strategy, given the ifs and buts.

To continue to focus on the idea of the EU, the party must accept that Britain has now left and we cannot go back. Instead, they could push for the idea of a close working relationship while Britain negotiates its future with its European neighbours and other nations to secure trade deals, movement of people, environmental policies, healthcare etc.

This idea of promoting a close EU relationship would probably still encounter similar issues to that of regaining membership. An overwhelming majority voted Conservative at the election. A move that is largely seen as support for Brexit. The support for Britain remaining close to the EU is not concentrated enough to be a viable path to success. The party would eventually fade into a position similar to what UKIP was like when they first formed. A fringe, single-issue group but on the opposite side of the argument.

The party could potentially go back to previous policies that they didnt support long enough for them to gain any sort of traction. Policies that were ditched after election campaigns ended and were often created solely for general election manifestos.

These could include ending imprisonment for the possession of illegal drugs if they are only for personal use. A divisive policy that was adopted by the party in their 2017 general election manifesto under Tim Farron. And one that was picked up too quickly and dropped even quicker when it failed to produce the immediate staggering results that the group wanted. Only gaining the party four seats in that election.

Though the idea would be divisive. It could pull in a class of recreational drug users or a new wave of more liberal-minded voters. This policy would take time to be accepted by society but could grow to a larger political movement that has the potential to push for meaningful legislation at a future date.

Another idea could be resurfacing the argument for a voting system with more proportional representation. An issue that the party supported in the alternative voting system referendum in 2011. The issue was dismissed with a comfortable win for the No campaign with a more than two-thirds majority.

This would pose a similar problem to pushing for a second EU referendum. They would need to wait for another opportunity in a generations time for the issue to become fertile. The difference this time however, is that it may not take as long. Since that referendum, there has been more indication of how the system didnt work effectively. (The 2017 general election produced a minority government). Thats twice in a decade.

Theres also a large number of supporters of minor political parties that would back the opportunity to make their views and votes have more meaning. This could gain real traction especially with the recent failure of the Labour Party at the general election. If the country continues on its path as effectively a one-party state, this idea could gain potential if its given time to develop.

I think a good quote for the Liberal Democrats in their current situation is that Rome wasnt built in a day.

If they want results, they have to give their ideas time to grow. And if they dont start to develop these ideas soon, they risk sinking the party beyond the point of no return.

Presently, the party is divided over its deferred leadership contest. Instead of choosing a new leader quickly and beginning the work of rebuilding, they have opted to delay the contest in light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Though the reasoning is justifiable, given the potential cost to human lives; this isnt what they need. A simple online poll sent to members via email would act as a sufficient gauge even if it was agreed that this would only be a temporary leadership position until the pandemic subsides.

It would be wise for the party to support the government in its stance on the current situation. This isnt really the time to be scoring party political points. Even if they did try this predictable tactic theyd still be decimated in the polls, as Boris Johnson holds a massive advantage no matter whose data you decide to consult.

Policy should be prioritised over leadership at this current time. Unite behind the candidate with the most support, rebuild to the point of security, then and only then contest the leadership. This is a time for development and rebuilding. Not for aggression. And this is something that should be adopted by all of the losing parties in the 2019 election. Were seeing it with Labour with the election of Sir Keir Starmer. It would be wise for the Lib Dems to follow suit.

In a nutshell. The party should support the government through this state of emergency and get some definition back through either new or returning policies, and a new leader. (The policies are more important than the individual who announces them at this moment in time). Once this pandemic is over, then and only then should they get a more permanent and properly elected leader who can start to go on the offensive and try to claw back points in the polls.

A constant theme of all the Liberal Democrat manifestos and leaders intentions since 1988 was that the party wanted to be seen as a viable third option in British politics. But if things carry on the way they currently are, theyll be lucky to even be considered as that.

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Whos still interested in the Lib Dems? - Shout Out UK

NEI researchers link age-related DNA modifications to susceptibility to eye disease – National Institutes of Health

Posted on April 22, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

News Release

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Findings point to targeting epigenome as a potential therapeutic strategy.

National Eye Institute (NEI) researchers profiling epigenomic changes in light-sensing mouse photoreceptors have a clearer picture of how age-related eye diseases may be linked to age-related changes in the regulation of gene expression. The findings, published online April 21 in Cell Reports, suggest that the epigenome could be targeted as a therapeutic strategy to prevent leading causes of vision loss, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). NEI is part of the National Institutes of Health.

Our study elucidates the molecular changes and biological pathways linked with aging of rod photoreceptors, light-sensing cells of the retina. Future investigations can now move forward to study how we can prevent or delay vision loss in aging and hopefully reduce the risk of associated neurodegeneration said the studys lead investigator, Anand Swaroop, Ph.D., senior investigator and chief of the NEI Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration, and Repair Laboratory.

Each organism is born with a genome, a library of genes that control all the bodys cellular and tissue functions. Expression of those genes when information stored in DNA is converted into instructions for making proteins or other molecules is modulated and maintained by the organisms epigenome. The epigenome tags the DNA code to modify gene expression in ways that can be favorable and unfavorable for survival.

As it turns out, that interplay between the genome and the epigenome evolves as the organism ages. Scientists therefore study epigenomic DNA modifications for clues about why certain diseases develop with advancing age.

To explore how such DNA modifications might influence visual function as we age, Swaroops team performed whole genome sequencing of DNA methylation changes in mouse rod photoreceptors at four separate stages over the animals lifetime. DNA methylation is an epigenetic mechanism essential for normal cell development and differentiation, and is also associated with aging and the formation of cancers. When present, DNA methylation generally represses gene expression.

The sequencing was performed at ages three months (young), 12 months (middle-aged), and 18 and 24 months (older). The average lifespan of a mouse is about two years.

Rod photoreceptors are the predominant type of cell in the retina, the light-sensing tissue at the back of the eye. Rod photoreceptors enable dim-light vision, and are critical for the survival of cone photoreceptors that enable daylight and color vision. Rod dysfunction is common in older human adults and can be an early warning sign of AMD and other retinal degenerative diseases.

The researchers identified 2,054 differentially methylated regions across the four mouse age groups, that is, genomic regions with differences in DNA methylation.

We know that DNA methylation changes are strongly associated with biological age, but prior to this study we had limited understanding of how these alterations correlated with cellular function, Swaroop said. This is the first study to look at DNA methylation changes as animals age. Very few studies have looked at DNA methylation changes in people with AMD, a leading cause of vision loss in people age 50 and older, which can progress even when vision loss is undetectable.

The researchers then analyzed the differentially methylated regions with RNA sequencing data to look more closely at how the mouse genes were transcribing proteins differently in the retina as the animals aged.

Those analyses uncovered distinct shifts in how the genes produced proteins relevant to energy metabolism, mitochondria function, and the longevity of rod photoreceptors, indicating their contribution to age-related disease susceptibility.

Rod photoreceptors require vast amounts of energy to sustain vision and are thus vulnerable to metabolic stresses that accompany aging. Energy deprivation of photoreceptors is believed to be a key driver of neurodegeneration of the retina.

Neurons, specifically photoreceptors, prefer glucose as a source of energy, but in aging, we surprisingly observed utilization of fatty acids as well. These studies suggest how changes in aging rod functions can make them vulnerable to genetic susceptibility variations and environmental factors, which together cause common blinding aging-associated diseases, Swaroop said.

Our work provides pivotal connections between aging, the epigenome, dysfunction of the cells mitochondria, and diseases such as AMD. The findings have broad implications for how we understand age-associated neurodegeneration, not only in the eye, but elsewhere in the body, he said.

Future studies will assess whether DNA methylation contributes to alterations in the expression of metabolic genes and thus introduce epigenomic editing as a therapeutic possibility for age-related retinal disease, said the studys first author, Ximena Corso-Daz, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow in the Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration, and Repair Laboratory.

The study was supported by NEI Intramural Research Program grants ZIAEY000450 and ZIAEY000456.

This press release describes a basic research finding. Basic research increases our understanding of human behavior and biology, which is foundational to advancing new and better ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat disease. Science is an unpredictable and incremental process each research advance builds on past discoveries, often in unexpected ways. Most clinical advances would not be possible without the knowledge of fundamental basic research.

NEI leads the federal governments research on the visual system and eye diseases. NEI supports basic and clinical science programs to develop sight-saving treatments and address special needs of people with vision loss. For more information, visit https://www.nei.nih.gov.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH):NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov.

NIHTurning Discovery Into Health

Corso-Daz X, Gentry J, Rebernick R, Jaeger C, Brooks MJ, Asten FV, Kooragayala K, Gieser L, Nelissery J, Covian R, Cogliati T, Mondal AK, Jiang K, Swaroop A. Genomewide profiling identifies DNA methylation signatures of aging in rod photoreceptors associated with alterations in energy metabolism. Published April 21, 2020 in Cell Reports. DOI 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.107525

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Neo-wars: masks and muskets – Daily Times

Posted on April 22, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Coronavirus, a microscopic germ, has literally brought our so-called advanced human civilisation to a grinding halt. The pandemic has pushed humankind in the age of neo-wars, characterised by non-military threats, notably pandemics and climate change.

Amid the surging death toll and the consequent disruption in human life, from economy to religion, all stand corona-ised. From individuals to nations, all stand quarantined. Both laymen and leaders are struggling to figure out what and why it has struck them so suddenly, swiftly, comprehensively, and conspicuously. Some are trying to find answers in their belief in the wrath of God, whereas others are finding solace in common sense defying conspiracy theories.

The global bewilderment is rooted in our general ignorance about the history of the evolutionary battle between microbes and humans. The current pandemic is neither the first nor the last as the clash between germs and humans is a part of the relentless evolutionary process that obliges microbes to infect, reproduce and spread to survive. In response, humans evolve their countermeasures to kill the deadly germs with antibiotics or antivirals.

According to the World Economic Forum, the Antonine Plague (165-180 AD, death toll 5 million), Black Death (1347-135, death toll 200 million), Third Plague (1885, death toll 12 million), Spanish Flu (1918-1919, death toll 40-50 million), Hong Kong Flu (1968-1970, death toll 1 million), HIV/AIDS (1981-present, death toll 25-35 million), SARS (2002-2003, death toll 770), Swine Flu (2009-2010, death toll 200,000), Ebola (2014-2016, death toll 11,000), MERS (2015, death toll 850), and COVID-19 (2019-Present, death toll 58,700) are some of the pandemics that human beings battled or continue to confront.

Like any contagion, the coronavirus will recede after peaking, leaving us with ample time to pause, reflect and change to be better prepared for next time

Comparatively, the death toll caused by the coronavirus is insignificant so far. However, COVID-19 is taking an unprecedented psychological, political and economic toll, owing to a highly globalised world underpinned by greater economic interdependence and digital connectivity that are turning to be its Achilles heels. A global lockdown means disruption in the global economic chain and consequent economic slowdown, threatening people with the scary spectre of job losses and decline in living standards. Thanks to social media, the pandemic of panic and uncertainty has proliferated faster and wider than the virus.

Due to the fear of infection, we are afraid to touch the very gadgets that define and drive our modern life. The contagion has injured the collective human ego and vanity, leaving us impeccably stunned. We are unable to reconcile ourselves with the novel and nightmarish scenario unfolding in slow motion, like a Hollywood thriller.

The splitting of atom, missions to moon, elimination of certain diseases, increased human longevity, and greater food production were mistaken for human conquest of nature. Arbitrarily, humankind proclaimed itself as the crown of the creature resulting in misleading triumphalism, fuelled by material advancement. Challenging our crown, the coronavirus has shocked us out of smugness and shattered our illusions about homo sapiens triumph and supremacy on the planet.

The reason why the global community is finding it hard to fight off the viral challenge is not because it is deadlier than the past pandemics, but because we have been caught unprepared, clueless, and ill-equipped despite having better technology than before. The coronavirus has exposed the hollowness of our moral conventions, religious institutions, politico-economic structures, so-called national security, popular leadership, technological prowess, and medical science, all of whose direction and thrust have turned out to be misconceived and misfocused.

Militarily, the world may be better equipped and prepared to repel an alien attack than fighting off the coronavirus invasion. The data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute reveals that the total world military annual expenditure is around US$1,822 billion, whereas the global health annual spending is about US$ 7,800 billion. Seemingly, the world health budget outweighs the global defence allocations. The total world population is over 7 billion souls whose good health is to be ensured by US$ 7,800 billion, whereas US$1,822 billions are spent on overall requirements of merely 27,414,000 armed forces personnel maintained for state security. Tellingly, the statistical juxtaposition lays bare the serious inadequacy of global health budgets considering the size of the world population and vitality of human health.

Ironically, poor nations like India and Pakistan, with shabby health infrastructure, never tire of bragging about their sophisticated nuclear doctrines and nuke stockpiles, gathering dust at the cost of human security of the millions of people perennially afflicted by hunger, poverty, and ignorance. Generally, nations are oversupplied with nuclear doctrines and national security strategies, but lockdown plans are insufficient. What nations have are modern muskets not masks; nuclear weapons not ventilators; bunkers not hospitals; armoured vehicles not ambulances; soldiers not doctors, nurses and policemen, who have emerged as the neo soldiers in this neo-war.

Humanitys war on the coronavirus is more complex than war on terror. The vulnerability of an underpaid, under-protected and overworked doctor, nurse or policeman to the virus during long duty hours and direct exposure is far greater than that of a soldier to an enemy bullet or bomb.

Like any contagion, the coronavirus will recede after peaking, leaving us with ample time to pause, reflect and change to be better prepared for next time. Humanity needs a radical shift in its infected intellectual approach to mother nature on which we are helplessly dependent rather than being its masters. We are just one of the millions of species on this tiny blue dot of dust we call Earth, suspended in infinity of universe. The party is over, and it will never be business as usual. In the contemporary age of human caused sixth mass extinction and climatic turbulences, the future of humanity hinges on the choices we make in the post-coronavirus world. A peace accord with nature, forensic reviews of politico-economic and religious institutions, reorientation of science and technology, sustainable development, prioritisation of human security, healthy health infrastructure, and population control are some of the wise measures expected of us, the homo sapiens, the so-called wise beings. The real enemy is not the coronavirus; humanity has to be saved from humans as our insatiable desire for more and more is unnatural, unsustainable, and suicidal.

The writer is a PhD scholar and can be reached at mahar.munawar2017@outlook.com and on Twitter @MunawarMahar

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Neo-wars: masks and muskets - Daily Times

LeBron James is No Human. He is a Freak of Nature: Former NBA Player Explains Why This is Not His Last Opportunity – Essentially Sports

Posted on April 13, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

LeBron James is one man who has established himself as one of the modern greats of the game. His career has been on an upward trajectory ever since he was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003.

There is no doubt that James works hard. He is currently in his 17th regular season in the NBA. But with this longevity comes the question of how long he can continue in the league.

Rachel Nichols is the host of the program Jump which airs on ESPN. Former stars Kendrick Perkins and Richard Jefferson joined her in a recent episode, speaking about everything NBA.

Nichols asked them if LeBron James can really carry on his current playing style into the next season. She further asked if this is his last real window to win a title with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Jefferson had his take on the question and replied: There might be a drop off when he turns 36. But hes got Anthony Davis, hes got a great team around him. So will this be his last chance to win a championship? No.

Perkins similarly had a response that would fire up LeBrons fans. LeBron James is no human. He is a freak of nature. And when it comes to professional athletes taking care of their bodies, LeBron James is one of one, stated the 35-year-old.

Perkins boldly stated that James can go playing at the top for the next five years. Hes a guy who invests a lot in his body, one of the best Ive ever seen, he added. He claimed that with the work rate James was putting this season, he is on his way to reclaim the throne as the leagues MVP, if the season should resume.

Jefferson then pointed out that James has changed his game this year. Hes been leading the league in assists with 10.5 assists per game. Jefferson states if he develops his game in this aspect he will prolong his career.

With players like LeBron James, you never know. He has been proving his skill on the court for 17-years straight. With his hunger and determination, no one can predict what he can achieve with the Lakers next season or the season after that.

James has been averaging 25.7 points, 7.9 rebounds and 10.6 assists per game this season. He can still do wonders with the ball. It is entirely up to LeBron James on how long he wants to keep playing. In his mind, if he wants to retire in his prime after winning a championship and an MVP award, he will.

Or, he can decide to play more. James has the advantage of choosing his path. At the end of the day, it is he who will make the ultimate decision.

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LeBron James is No Human. He is a Freak of Nature: Former NBA Player Explains Why This is Not His Last Opportunity - Essentially Sports

‘Human rights don’t have a best-before date’: COVID-19 lays bare rampant ageism – The Globe and Mail

Posted on April 13, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

A makeshift memorial is seen at the CHSLD Yvon-Brunet, a long-term care home in Montreal, on April 13, 2020.

Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press

Four more deaths, all elderly.

For the family of John Fox, already in mourning, those words cut like a knife in a fresh wound.

The retired RCMP officer had died earlier that day of COVID-19 at the age of 73.

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Suddenly, he was just a statistic, part of a throwaway line on the evening news. Hearing Mr. Fox described as elderly, albeit anonymously, shocked the family.

That word is so laden, so dismissive, says Margaret Gillis, his sister-in-law.

And so common.

Coronavirus guide: Updates and essential resources about the COVID-19 pandemic

How many coronavirus cases are there in Canada, by province, and worldwide? The latest maps and charts

What are the coronavirus rules in my province? A quick guide to whats allowed and open, or closed and banned

What is the implication when you describe someone as elderly? That they are unimportant? Disposable? Ready to die?

Ms. Gillis says those are assumptions we make all too often about people of a certain age.

And she would know.

In addition to losing a loved one to the pandemic, Ms. Gillis is president of the International Longevity Centre (ILC Canada), a group that advocates for the human rights of older people and against the rampant ageism in society.

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Johns death has made the pandemic more real for me, Ms. Gillis says. Its also given a new urgency to my work tackling the almost inbred ageism in society.

Ms. Gillis says that, on the surface, calling someone elderly may not seem like a big deal, but language matters because assumptions and prejudices permeate public policies.

We need not look any further than the horror story unfolding in nursing homes and long-term care facilities in Canada and around the world.

We have known from the get-go that people in institutional care were among the most vulnerable to a pandemic. Yet little was done to protect them.

News of outbreaks in facilities that house seniors trickles out when the situation become so dire that dozens die such as at the Rsidence Herron in Dorval, Que., or the Pinecrest Nursing Home in Bobcaygeon, Ont.

But its hard to even figure out how many outbreaks there are in these high-risk institutions, a reminder of the old adage: If you dont count it, it doesnt count.

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For the most part, older people dont count.

Weve seen that illustrated in the debates about what would happen if COVID-19 overwhelmed hospitals. Beds and ventilators would go first to younger people, not people with disabilities and the elderly.

In Italy, you could barely get in the door of a hospital if you were over 60, Ms. Gillis says.

The tales of older people found dead in nursing homes and in their homes in Spain and Italy are legion. Most didnt even get counted in the official coronavirus statistics.

Just more dead old people.

We have this attitude that people who are not seen as contributing to the economy have no value, Ms. Gillis says.

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In popular culture, you can joke about a persons age in a way you cant about their race or religion. We see this reflected too in popular memes like Okay, Boomer which has morphed into the more nihilistic Boomer Remover descriptor of coronavirus.

Many have played down the severity of the pandemic by saying it only kills old people. Others have suggested that, rather than the sweeping physical-distancing rules that have been imposed, we simply quarantine older people and let everyone else get on with their lives, or that we let coronavirus run wild so herd immunity develops and the old and the weak are culled.

Ms. Gillis says these crass approaches ignore the fact that human rights dont have a best-before date and that many, if not most, older adults have rich lives.

She points to her brother-in-law, saying that like all the others who have died in the pandemic, he is more than a statistic ... he was a spouse, a father, a grandfather who contributed a lot to his community.

Mr. Fox was a big bear of a man, healthy as a horse, with no underlying health conditions before he contracted coronavirus.

Shortly before he fell ill, he played golf; in recent weeks, he had been kayaking and hiking. Mr. Fox was an active volunteer with a therapeutic horseback-riding group for children with developmental and physical disabilities. Having seen far too many gruesome highway crashes over his police career, Mr. Fox was also a dedicated blood donor.

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Elderly was certainly not a label that fit.

But is it ever?

The Quebec government will inspect all 2,600 of the province's seniors residences to ensure proper care is being provided during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Canadian Press

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Here Are 9 Ways To Stay Informed and Protect Your Mental Health – Longevity LIVE

Posted on April 13, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

As the facts surrounding the global coronavirus pandemic continue to change at a moments notice, its important to stay informed on the latest news. Doing so can help us make informed decisions to better protect our health. However, as important as it is to stay up to date with the latest news, could we also be harming our mental health?

Its understandable that we all want to spend our free time reading everything about the coronavirus as it helps to provide us with a sense of control, which is what we need during these uncertain times. However, its clear that absorbing too much bad news can be harmful to both our mental and physical health.

According to a survey from the American Psychological Association, most adults admitted to following the news regularly, but 56 % shared that doing so causes them stress. Now with that said, why do we still find ourselves glued to our screens, enamored with every sensational headline?

The fact is being informed allows us to develop tools that we can use to better protect ourselves. Unfortunately, being informed can often come as a cost to our mental health. For instance, research published in the British Journal of Psychology found that after just 14 minutes of watching bad news, participants began to experience negative effects on their mental health. Whats more, heightened stress levels can weaken your immune system, which is the last thing you need especially now.

However, this doesnt mean that you should give up on staying informed and engaged. In fact, there are ways for you to stay informed without compromising your mental health.

Similar to how you establish screen time limits for your kids, you should also set your own time limits when it comes to reading the news. Clicking on a link with a sensational headline can catapult you down a rabbit hole of never-ending information. However, by setting an alarm, you can pull yourself out before you get in too deep and compromise your mental health.

Try to figure out how much time youll need to read the news, and set an actual timer on your phone, be it for 5, 15, or 30 minutes or even an hour. You should then decide how many times a day youll do it for say reading the news for 15 minutes three times per day. Once the time is up, close all your apps or tabs related to the news, and dont open it up again until the next time, or day.

In addition to timing yourself when it comes to reading the news, you should also remember to allocate time to other activities that are good for your mental health. This includes exercising, reading, or any other healthy hobbies.

Different news sources help to provide you with more perspective when it comes to current affairs. However, the constant and multiple news alerts and notifications on your phone can get overwhelming, raising your stress levels.

As such, it would be advisable to limit your notifications and only allow news alerts from sites that you deem necessary. In fact, more information is not necessarily the best way to stay informed. Instead of allowing a barrage of notifications to fill up your phone, rather choose just two or three of the most credible sources and ignore the rest. Sites such as the CDC and the WHO organization are the best sources as they provide the latest, and the most credible information surrounding the coronavirus.

When a news story breaks, were all glued to CNN or refreshing our Twitter timelines in an effort to get the latest updates. While normal, this action can affect your mental health. This is because when a news story breaks, it takes a while to get all the facts straight and oftener than not, the information we see online is more so based on half-truths, speculations, and even conspiracy theories. As a result, these stories may serve to get our attention, but they also serve to increase anxiety and stress levels.

As it takes some time for journalists to collect all the facts, it would be advisable to wait for them to provide a more accurate and well-rounded report.

The last thing you want is to be going to bed with news anxiety, as this will disrupt your sleep, and this is the last thing you need. In addition to weakening your immune system, lack of quality sleep can also affect your mental health by increasing the risk of depression.

Its important to never check the news before bed. This is because you want enough time during the day to process the information. During the day, if you read something that raises your stress levels, youll be able to engage in stress-relieving techniques such as yoga or meditation. Its also advisable to not sleep with your phone too close to you as you may be tempted to read the news as soon as you wake up.

With the constant influx of infection rates and death tolls, the news can get quite depressing. However, its important to remember that there are good things happening in the world. The bad news does not provide a full picture of the days events.

Reading good news can help to relieve some stress accumulated by bad news. So, try to read up on some human interest stories or you can also follow sites like the Good News Network, Positive News, and Optimist Daily.

In addition to getting some good news, you should also try focusing on issues that you can help solve. As the coronavirus pandemic has affected various people in different ways, why dont you go out of your way to research how you can help them? For ways to get involved, or help make a change, check out Global Givings Coronavirus Relief Fund.

Starting your day reading bad news can affect your mood. So, its important to start your day on a more positive note.

Try starting your day by listening to a relaxing podcast that boosts your mood, exercising, meditating, or by even enjoying a cup of coffee on your porch, enjoying the tranquil silence.

If youve been consuming the news, and youre feeling overwhelmed, its important not to suppress your feelings. Doing so can make things worse.

Instead, try reaching out to a friend or family member and talk about your feelings. Additionally, your area may be on lockdown, but psychologists and counselors are still operating online. Therefore, dont shy away from contacting your nearest mental health counseling group.

Yes, you should reach out if you are feeling overwhelmed with crippling coronavirus anxiety. However, you can also make the conscious decision not to discuss the coronavirus if you believe that doing so affects your mental health.

When it comes to the coronavirus, everyone has an opinion, and theyre each looking to share it. As a result, we often feel forced into a conversation. However, youre allowed to not engage if you feel that doing so can bring your mood down. Feel free to change the subject to something more positive.

If all else fails, feel free to simply step back and unplug.

Youre allowed to protect your mental health. If you feel that you need to disconnect from time to time, feel free to do so. Uninstall all your social media apps and disconnect from all news outlets for a period of time. Ask a close friend or family member to only alert you if something is going on that you need to know about.

Yes, its important to stay up to date with the news as this can help us to make more informed decisions. Unfortunately, too much news can affect our health, and thats the last thing we need right now.

Thankfully, there are ways to protect our health and stay informed.

Johnston, W.M. and Davey, G.C.L. (1997), The psychological impact of negative TV news bulletins: The catastrophizing of personal worries. British Journal of Psychology, 88: 85-91. DOI:10.1111/j.2044-8295.1997.tb02622.x

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Helen Dotan-Glassberg selected as Top VP of Human Resources & Talent by the International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP) – Life Pulse…

Posted on April 13, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Israel, Haifa District 04-13-2020 (PRDistribution.com) Helen Dotan-Glassberg, VP of Human Resources & Talent Development for Shamir Optical Industry Ltd., was recently selected as Top VP of Human Resources & Talent for 2020 by the International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP) for her outstanding leadership and commitment to the industry.

Inclusion with the International Association of Top Professionals is an honor in itself, only a few members in each discipline are chosen for this distinction. These special honorees are distinguished based on their professional accomplishments, academic achievements, leadership abilities, longevity in the field, other affiliations and contributions to their communities. All honorees are invited to attend the IAOTPs annual award gala at the end of this year for a night to honor their achievements.With over 20 years of professional experience serving as a Vice President of Human Resources and Manager of Human Resources, Helen has certainly proven herself as an accomplished professional and expert in her field. As a dynamic, results-driven leader she has demonstrated success in Career Development, Performance Management, Team Building, Organizational Development, Recruiting, Deferred Compensation, Talent Acquisition, Management Development, Employee Relations, HR Consulting and HR Policies.Her impressive repertoire of prior roles include experience within the renewables and environmental industries. She served as VP of HR for Amiad Water Systems Ltd., VP of Human Resources for Medingo, a Roche Company, Director of HR for Surf Communications Solutions and HR Manager of EVS/Granit Mesima.Currently, Helen is employed with Shamir Optical Industry, Ltd., an Israel-based company, which is engaged in the development, design, and manufacturing of premium progressive lenses and molds for the ophthalmic industry. This is a fully owned subsidiary of Shamir Insight, Inc (San Diego, CA). Serving as the Sales and Marketing center for the USA, Canada, Central/South America and Mexico, Shamir Insight specializes in the marketing of premium progressive lenses under the product brand names such as Shamir Autograph III, Shamir Autograph !!, Shamir InTouch, Shamir Spectrum, Shamir FirstPal, Shamir Golf, Shamir Relax, Shamir Attitude III, Shamir Duo, Shamir Computer and Shamir WorkSpace.Before embarking her current career path, Helen earned a Master of Arts in Sociology- Organizational Behavior from Haifa University in 2002. Stephanie Cirami, President of IAOTP states, Choosing Helen for this honor was an easy decision for our panel to make. She is a good communicator, displays high integrity in all business endeavors and is a true leader within her role. We are looking forward to honoring her on stage, this year at the Plaza Hotel in New York City at IAOTPs 2020 Annual Awards GalaThroughout her illustrious career, Helen has been recognized worldwide for her leadership and commitment to the field. This year she will be considered for a feature in T.I.P. (Top Industry Professional) Magazine and was chosen as Top VP of Human Resources & Talent by the International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP). For 2021 she will be considered for the Empowered Woman of the Year Award, based on her extensive knowledge and tremendous foresight as a Human Resources Professional.Looking back, Helen attributes her success to her persistence, positive leadership and mentors she has had the pleasure of working alongside. Her depth of HR expertise and having diverse international business experience are what has driven her to succeed on so many levels. For the future, she aspires to continue growing as a professional and making a difference to help others achieve their goals in the business world.About IAOTPThe International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP)is an international boutiquenetworking organization who handpicks the worlds finest, most prestigious top professionals from different industries. These top professionals are given an opportunity to collaborate, share their ideas, be keynote speakers and to help influence others in their fields. This organization is not a membership that anyone can join. You have to be asked by the President or be nominated by a distinguished honorary member after a brief interview.IAOTPs experts have given thousands of top prestigious professionals around the world, the recognition and credibility that they deserve and have helped in building their branding empires. IAOTP prides itself to be a one of a kind boutique networking organization that hand picks only the best of the best and creates a networking platform that connects and brings these top professionals to one place.For More Information on IAOTP please visit: http://www.iaotp.comWatch Gala Video

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Market Insight: What Does the Sustainability & Climate Change Profession Look Like During, and After, COVID-19? – CSRwire.com

Posted on April 8, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Apr. 07 /CSRwire/ - Communication and transparency are important right now. It is useful to share perspectives and information. Brevity is also important as there is a lot for us all to do, so here is a short update of Acre's observations.

How is the current situation impacting the employment market?

Some organisations and industries have been hit hard by coronavirus, and our thoughts are with them, but there are plenty of organisations that have the opportunity to keep on trading unimpeded, or that may see a benefit from the current scenario.We have observed the following:

Existing recruitment processes have generally continued:About 80% of companies have continued their hiring processes despite the challenging backdrop. The number of interviews we are organizing has not dipped probably aided by the ease of video technology.

Companies are making hiring decisions based on video conference interviews:The majority of companies are willing to make hiring decisions based on videoconference interviews, so as not to lose momentum in recruitment processes

Purpose-driven jobs are still being created:Albeit at a reduced level, we have continued to take on a number of exceptional new assignments across all our global territories. We will continue to post these on our website and onLinkedIn, where appropriate.

What is the long-term outlook for the professions?

Our work focuses on system-level issues that need to be addressed over years, not months - in the wake of coronavirus these challenges will remain. Whats more, the current status quo is likely to galvanize a move towards a more sustainable global economic model.

The market has been growing:Over the past two years, Acre has experienced an acceleration in the growth of the sustainability employment market, driven by heightened corporate engagement, grass-roots mobilization, increased consumer awareness, regulatory pressure, and commitments that span borders, such as the Paris Climate Agreement.

There has also been a shift in the focus of the investment community for even greater standards of board accountability on how their business is adapting to a two-degree climate scenario.

Commitment to climate change is high:Whilst the 2008 recession reduced commitment to climate issues (some companies were recruiting Climate Change Directors prior to this point), climate change mitigation and adaptation is much more embedded in the makeup of our socioeconomic systems now, and as many have observed, the coronavirus epidemic may serve to enhance this further.

Opportunities will emerge:The 2008 recession had other positive impacts for the sustainability profession. For instance, companies began to look at how to achieve financial efficiencies within their businesses. For this reason, we experienced an enhanced demand for energy managers as companies looked to reduce their energy costs. The sustainability profession is diverse; amongst issues such as wellbeing, business ethics, supply chain, and circular economy there will be areas that are not only well sheltered but become more critical over the coming months.

Sustainability as a profession may be enhanced:Beyond 2008, companies who were focussed on achieving longevity began to evolve their perception of sustainability away from a CSR and public relations exercise, to a core strategic opportunity and a driver of business innovation. In an environment of challenge and constraint, it was inevitable that sustainability would have to account for itself.

The importance of sustainability is likely to be enhanced again, particularly as this time the issue is caused by a specific challenge that our profession will have a role in tackling.

Healthy, safe and well citizens:Inside and outside of business, there will be enhanced scrutiny of how people were treated during this time. Since the rise of social media and the public outcry at footage from events such as the Rana Plaza Factory collapse in Bangladesh in 2003, the world will be looking at how workforces and supply chains have been protected from both a health and an economic perspective. An increased value will be placed on functions that support this endeavour.

What is our collective role?

Companies and those who lead them have an obligation to play a positive and constructive role in supporting society to navigate the temporary challenge that we face.Our role is as follows:

To stay focused on the challenges we address:Coronavirus has swept across society quickly, so its effect is obvious however the impacts of climate change, ocean plastics, loss of biodiversity, poor air quality and human rights are enduring issues which pose enormous challenges and threats. It is essential not to lose sight of this.

To mobilize our teams to support:The sustainability profession has been responsible for the greatest feats of industrial collaboration in history (think multi stakeholder-initiatives) and we must collectively leverage this experience now - we all have a responsibility to support each other at times like this. Please pick up the phone if we can support you or provide information which will help with your personal decision making. We are enriched, energized and humbled by the open dialogues we are having with our clients and stakeholders.

To instill confidence in the market:To the best of our ability, we will continue to take a business-as-usual approach. At Acre, we are supporting our employees, sharing our progress with the market, and exploring how we can adapt in certain areas where market constraints currently exist.

Our pace remains the same our professions remit is vital to societal and environmental adaptation and we will press ahead with full commitment.

Please feel free to reach out to discuss any of the observations made above.

From all of us, we hope that you and your families are in good health.

Andy Cartland, Founder of Acre

About Acre

Sustainability & EHS Recruitment and Talent Development

Acre connects forward thinking organisations with purpose driven professionals. We work with functions which focus on resolving systemic challenges that impact society and the environment at a global level. These functions include; Sustainability and CSR, Corporate Affairs, ESG and Sustainable Finance, EHS as well as Energy and Clean Technology. To learn more, visitacre.com

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Market Insight: What Does the Sustainability & Climate Change Profession Look Like During, and After, COVID-19? - CSRwire.com

The herd and the mob – Prince George Citizen

Posted on April 8, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Early in the pandemic, there was some talk by wishful politicians that herd immunity would be enough to deal with the coronavirus, that shutting down vast sections of the economy and putting millions out of work wouldnt be necessary. The idea was that enough people would be exposed, be mildly sick for a short time and then be immune, able to work and protect others.

Two problems with COVID-19 made herd immunity impossible. First, the ability for asymptomatic people to spread the virus for days, a fact well-known early in the pandemic, despite the senior politicians proclaiming as late as last week that they had no idea. Second, COVID-19 makes people far sicker for far longer and kills far more people than the average flu, again despite political leaders and American broadcasters insisting for too long, well into late March, that it was just another flu.

Herd immunity is what makes childhood vaccinations work so well. If the vast majority of children are vaccinated for measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, pertussis and so on, they form a wall of protection around the small group of children unable to be vaccinated due to underlying health conditions.

If there is one silver lining in this pandemic cloud, its hopefully that weve heard the last of anti-vaxxers. It will be a vaccine, after all, that will protect humans from COVID-19. Sadly, that vaccine wont come in time to save millions of people around the world, in our country and in our province.

Modern society has allowed many people to unplug from the herd. In a much earlier time in human history, selfishness, individuality, being a loner, going your own way was suicidal. The only way for early humans to survive in a hostile environment with few resources was to band together. Self-survival was intimately tied to the health and well-being of ones neighbour and the overall herd.

Human evolution experts are increasingly convinced by the fossil record and other evidence that homo sapiens survived while other forms of early human, such as Neanderthals, didnt because homo sapiens were better team players, using their imagination to adjust to new situations with innovative approaches to further the longevity of the herd.

In other words, survival of the fittest isnt individual brute strength, self-interest and mercilessly culling out the weak. Its kinship, collaboration and kindness.

The herd ethic isnt perfect, of course. The mob mentality is also a manifestation of the herd. Otherwise sensible people have found themselves looting, hoarding, rioting, wilfully putting themselves and others in danger and later cant explain why, their behaviour as senseless and against their self-interest as the creatures mindlessly following their neighbour off a cliff.

Fortunately, the mob never prevails, although it can do catastrophic damage in a short time, up to and including destruction of itself and the herd (sounds like a virus, doesnt it?).

Fortunately, that is rare. If it were more common, homo sapiens and the many other herd creatures wouldnt be here today.

The herd endures.

Its more than selflessness and altruism leading so many people to do the right thing - healthcare workers putting themselves at risk to treat people they dont know, essential workers showing up for their shifts, families staying home to protect themselves and others from COVID-19.

Thats the herd programming, hardwired deep in our brains, at work.

Thats the elephants and the bison and the musk ox forming a circle around the most vulnerable members of the herd while facing the external threat head-on.

For them and us, then and now, the herd is salvation, the mob annihilation.

Read the original:
The herd and the mob - Prince George Citizen

10 Habits to Transform Your Mindset During Lockdown – Thrive Global

Posted on April 13, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

With an unprecedented proportion of the worlds population in self-isolation, many of us feel uneasy (to say the least) about the sudden, strange upheaval to regular life as we know it. There is no doubt that, on top of the serious physical respiratory health pandemic, a tsunami of associated mental health issues is rapidly sweeping the globe.

It is totally normal and understandable to flip between a multitude of mental and emotional statesduringtheCOVID-19outbreak. Researchers recorded feardepression, anxiety and post traumatic stress disorder in China during the outbreak. Other studies found depression and anxiety levels to rise in the UK, following the announcement of the governments lockdown policy.

As health-optimizing, best-selling author Aubrey Marcus recently shared:

Its okay to feel what you are feeling, whatever that is. Dont feel ashamed if you arent positivePeople misunderstand what being strong really is. Strength is the courage to be vulnerable, be real. Some days I feel empoweredsome days I feel helplessThis week Ive had heaping doses of both polarities. Most people Ive spoken to have felt similar. Its all okay. Aubrey Marcus

Although we might not go actively looking for them , lifes toughest challenges also provide the opportunity to shake up our lives and realise what matters most. After struggling with several big life changes myself a few years ago, I focused on what seemed to help keep me emotionally stable and happy even in the midst of external turmoil.

The pandemic is like a collective challenging life-change the world is battling serious illness; anxiety; financial woes; separation from loved ones; grief; a temporary loss of freedom instability in multiple areas en masse.

Healthy relationshipsare key for our well-being. The 80-year Harvard Study of Adult Development found that close personal connections are key for our happiness and longevity throughout life. Research also suggests that people who engage in supportive, positive relationships produce more oxytocin, which can: boost our immune system, allow us to physically heal quicker, and mean we are less likely to experience stress, anxiety, and depression.

Technology is often blamed for making us feel more socially isolated (more on that later on); but most of us are using it now to build a sense of real-life community that we might miss at the moment. Commit to speaking to at least one person who uplifts you on a phone or video call every day. You can arrange to share meals, play online games, or have creative sessions with loved ones using apps like Zoom or Houseparty. You can even host virtual dinner parties by eating meals at the same time as those we miss; or have virtual book or movie clubs where you discuss a book you are all reading, or film youve watched, on scheduled calls.

Social media self-isolation support groups (global on Facebook, local on Nextdoor, or you can make your own using Whatsapp) are popping up to help members stay positive. These groups can help us pool resources and knowledge; share how we feel; and find the support we need.

As well as contacting those we trust and feel positive with when we are struggling, reaching out to others who might be feeling alone, anxious or overwhelmed can also help us get through hard times together. Every morning when you wake up, try to think of two people you could check in with that day with a message, call or supportive voice note . Helping others is also known to help boost our own mental well-being.

Supporting small businesses online can help those struggling with low in-person footfall. We can also donate to local food banks, homeless shelters, services for the elderly or COVID-19 appeals like the UKs National Emergencies Trust, or volunteer to help the NHS support those most in need.

If you live with other people, keep in mind that we all deal with stress differently, and all have up and down days. In general, try to take a few breaths before reacting to someone elses emotionally-triggering behavior, and to be open about how you feel and your needs perhaps using the Nonviolent Communication method to build understanding rather than resentment.

This recent Freakonomics podcast episode discusses the effects of the pandemic on urban populations and marriages. Tim Ferriss COVID-19-related podcasts have been super-insightful, and his recent interview with acclaimed relationship therapist Esther Perel is packed with useful lockdown coping strategies. There is more practical advice for isolating with your family in this LBC Radio interview.

Just a few minutes of meditation day has been shown to have a multitude of positive effects on our mental and physical well-being, and now might be a great time to start. Over the medium-term, research has shown that meditation can help calm down anxious racing minds; decrease stress and depressive feelings; give us new perspectives; and find inner stillness even when the outer world seems tumultuous.

Set up a comfortable, quiet space with a cushion, blanket, candle or other elements which make your spot enjoyable to go to. Head there at a regular time for example at 8am; before you go to bed; or after you brush your teeth to make it more likely that you keep going back.

There is an ever-growing treasure trove of free and paid-for meditation material online. Insight Timer is my favorite meditation app for variety and the community aspect; the Calm app has a free Lets meet this moment together section to soothe COVID-19-related anxiety; and Australian Smiling Mind also has this dedicated Thrive Inside resources page.

Many of the worlds best-known meditation guides (such as Jay Shetty) are busy sharing positive-mindset content on social media; and studios like Unplug Meditaton in California are streaming classes online to help us calm down too. Alchemy of Breath also runs free online breath-work meditation classes every Sunday which can be particularly transformative to our mood.

Megan Monohans book Dont Hate Meditate is a great practical introduction to building a practice; and Deepak Chopras Hope in Uncertain Times site is offering a free 21-Day Meditation Experience.

To be mindful means staying non-judgmentally aware of the present moment rather than mind-wandering into thoughts about the past or the future (which is believed to make us less happy). During difficult times its easy for our attention to drift to worries about worst-case scenarios that may never happen. The fact is, no one really knows what the future holds. It is prudent to be practically prepared, but after that it is helpful to remember that we are safe in the present moment, rather than diving into negative thought spirals.

Meditation is a concentrated, dedicated period of mindfulness, but we can also practice staying mindful or to keep bringing our full attention to during other tasks.

A few easy ways to practice mindfulness include:

Some of my favorite books further exploring mindfulness, consciousness and living in the present moment include the beautifully written The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer; the esoteric The Power of Now by Eckhard Tolle; and mind-blowing Freedom From The Known by J. Krishnamurti. You can watch Tolles recent Staying conscious in the state of adversity video here.

Try to build some kind of routine at home you might decide to wake up, go to sleep and eat at regular times; take up exercise on certain days; or diarize blocks of your calendar for work and other tasks. This can help to help maintain our sleep patterns, to eat more healthily and stress less.

Its useful to list things youd like to achieve tomorrow (highlighting three top priorities), as well as the week ahead in your journal, carrying any unfinished tasks forward to the next time period. You can find tips on productively working from home online, like in these articles by the BBC and CNN.

If youve wanted to read a book (here are 10 books that totally transformed my life); learn a new skill (like a language); or take an online course (you can check many affordable or free ones out on Udemy or Coursera) but havent prioritized it take this extra time indoors as an opportunity. Hal Elrods easy read The Miracle Morning suggests activities to start our day off right, including exercise, meditation, reading, journaling and visualization. I personally like to meditate each morning, exercise in the afternoon, and read before I go to bed this structure helps me to stay grounded. I also like to mix up how I exercise, books I read and my self care routine, depending how I feel that day.

To work on forming good habits, or getting rid of old ones, James Clears Atomic Habits is a great guide to getting started. Using a journal, a highly-visible habit tracker, app or having an accountability buddy also helps us stay on track. To help my focus levels, I like listening to calming background music such as this on YouTube, or you can check out scientifically-backed Brain.fm.

Being at home all day means that many of us are spending more time than ever socializing, working, informing and entertaining ourselves through our online devices. The majority of Brits use their smartphones right up until bedtime and, in 2019, the average American checked theirs 96 times per day. Studies have linked heavy smartphone use to stress, depression and anxiety, with too much social media particularly found to affect our mood. Most of us have also likely noticed the associated effects of overuse on on our sleep, focus and productivity at home.

We can use usage-tracker apps like iPhones Screen Time, or Digital Wellbeing for Android to see how much time we spend on our devices usually its way more than we consciously realize! Then its down to simple hacks like having a phone-free room at home (like your bedroom) or times of day (like 9pm to 9am); turning off all but essential notifications; keeping your phone of arms reach when you are working; and deleting social media or other potentially time-wasting apps to declutter your home screen.

Check out the brilliant book How to Break Up With Your Phone by Catherine Price for more tips. Many of us are also enjoying digging out paper books, board games, gardening, baking or exercise equipment for offline entertainment.

Its important to stay up-to-date with key developments, but if you start to feel overwhelmed by negative news, follow the CDCs advice and take a break from it. Over half of participants in a 2018 study by the American Psychological Association said that the news causes them stress, with many experiencing anxiety or sleep loss as a result. Try not to have news on in the background check once a day for updates, rather than constantly, and set a time limit on how late youll consume it at night. Notice how you feel before and after you check the news. If you feel like you are compulsively checking, give someone you care about a call, or do something productive, like picking up a book, instead. Alternatively you can even check out Positive News for pandemic respite. The Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine also has a dedicated COVID-19 page that is updated daily to debunk related fake news.

At a Flying with Confidence course a few years ago, my fellow flight-phobic attendees and I were recommended to avoid watching fictional, Aircraft Investigation-style, TV shows about plane crashes the human brain has a tendency to normalize the catastrophes and outliers we see on TV. It can be tempting to consume all of the apocalyptic Netflix programming we can, in an attempt to understand all of the unknowns. In the same, I am avoiding watching this too, and focusing on uplifting or funny shows (my current favorite is Bojack Horseman) instead.

Laughter is known to make us feel better, and can soothe physical tension, strengthen our immune system and give us pain relief. Notice the small things that make you smile, and make sure you are regularly having fun doing things you enjoy like baking, drawing, dancing, singing, speaking to friends who cheer you up, watching or reading something that makes you smile. Think about what lit you up as a child, and dedicate at least 3060 minutes a day to activities that make you feel most happy and alive instead of consuming anxiety-inducing content.

Studies show that spending time in nature can have positive effects on our health like lowering our blood pressure and boosting happiness; and, for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, Spring has sprung.

Try to spend time outside in your garden or patio every day, or go for a socially-distanced walk or run in the park or a natural space near you (as permitted by your local governments recommendations). Take the time to mindfully notice your surroundings any trees, flowers or birds you spot. Focusing on distant views can also give our eyes a break from all of the screen time at home.

You can connect with nature without leaving the house, too. Commit to noticing how the sky, or other natural phenomena like trees, look outside each day research suggests a window view of nature can even shorten the recovery time of patients. Owning a houseplant has also been shown to improve our mood; and listening to recorded nature sounds (I love hearing the ocean whilst I work) or looking at images of green environments are thought to also have calming effects on us. You could also install a bird feeder you can see from inside, and try to spend a significant proportion of your day in a room with adequate sunlight.

With all of the upheaval and uncertainty, many of us are finding it harder to nod off, with some reporting vivid dreams or nightmares once they do manage to. The American National Sleep Foundation recommends that adults get seven to nine hours of sleep per night; while the NHS explains here how being chronically under-rested can lead to serious health conditions including anxiety and depression.

For now, try developing a regular relaxing bedtime routine such as having three things you regularly do, like reading a book, having a herbal tea, a bath, journaling, meditating or moisturizing. Make sure your bedroom is as quiet and dark as possible, and avoid mental over-stimulation and blue light from our screens in bed which affect our sleep cycles by charging your phone outside of the bedroom. You could also try putting tech on airplane-mode at 9pm (and not checking your messages until 9am), or using free desktop tool F.lux which aims to keep the light levels coming from our screens with that of our natural environment according to the time of day.

Calms sleep stories have helped millions of people already, and HuffPost has some great tips here on sleeping better during pandemic-related anxiety. If you are interested in finding out more about our sleep qualitys effect on our health, Matthew Walkers book Why We Sleep is full of practical information and tips based on cutting-edge sleep-science.

The UK government recommends healthy adults do at least 2.5 hours of moderate exercise every week. Physical activity has many mental benefits such as improving cognitive function, boosting our perceived quality of life, and reducing anxiety and depression. If youre used to feeling the positive effects of going to the gym or playing sports, which you cant do right now, do not fear! Many of the worlds top fitness studios like Barrys Bootcamp, and instructors like Joe Wicks The BodyCoach TV, have moved to streaming regular free or paid-for classes online during lock down.

Research has found that lower intensity, strengthening movement like yoga (which also often includes a meditation section) can help calm us down during stressful times. Some of my favorite yoga teachers are also recording frequent classes from their social media accounts (like Ted McDonald on Instagram). I also love online ecstatic dance classes with URUBU or Rise Up basically, an excuse to dance like no one else is watching from the comfort of your living room, whilst connecting online to people from all over the world.

As well as dancing, singing has multiple health benefits too, and listening to music we enjoy is known to uplift our mood. There is a proliferation of DJ live streams and concerts going on check out this list of ideas if you are looking for something new.

We can all be guilty of being harsher to ourselves than we would be to anyone else learn to treat yourself like a best friend instead. If youre not feeling as productive as usual do what you can and know that youre trying your best during an unprecedented, stressful situation. This could also be an opportunity to rest a little from normal busy life, and to learn to forgive yourself if you are not feeling 100% (or failing to meet unrealistic standards).

As spiritual thought-leader Sadhguru recently half-joked to his 2.9m followers during his daily Instagram talk, the general public are saving lives just by staying home for once by doing nothing, we are doing something.

If you are comparing yourself with other peoples attitudes or achievements notice, and then try to put a stop to, doing that. We all handle things differently at different times, and we never really know what someone else is going through.

Acknowledging difficult feelings such as anxiety, grief, or boredom by sitting quietly with them and feeling where they come up in the body, and maybe sharing them with someone we trust, or a mental health professional can help us process and move through them, rather than repressing and paying for it later on. We can tell ourselves Ok, Im anxious/grieving/bored now, but that is normal and fine, and this too will pass after all these are not usual times!

Journalling or freewriting committing to writing whatever comes up for a set time duration (such as five minutes) or number of pages (three, for example) without editing or censoring ourselves can help us to get clearer on whats going on in our heads, and so make them feel less cluttered. Recording feelings can also be interesting to reflect on in future.

Keep in mind and check in with what feels useful to your own physical and mental state before and after you practice, then you will learn what works for you. You can find further COVID-19 mental health resources here:

If you are feeling unable to cope or overwhelmed, and speaking to someone close to you who you trust doesnt help you feel better, contact your family doctor or seek a professional counselor or therapist its often possible to have sessions remotely, over the phone or online.

These are uncertain times where many of us face grief, financial pressure, loss of freedom and anxiety so it is imperative to look after the physical and mental well-being of ourselves and others well during this period.

To summarize, try to regularly: meditate and practice mindfulness; build social connections; prioritize sleeping well; practice movement and a hobby you enjoy every day; regulate your tech use and consumption of negative content; and help others who are vulnerable, lonely or in particular need.

We can decide to not only survive and get through this period, but maybe learn to come out the other side as improved beings with a better understanding of how to tend to the needs and feelings of ourselves and others, and a renewed realization of our connectedness to nature and the rest of the world, as well as of what is truly most important to us.

Jessica Warren is co-founder of Mind: Unlocked a mental well-being business that provides practical tools, courses and workshops to help people cope with the stress of everyday modern life. She has been featured as a wellness speaker on BBC Radio and at conferences like Wanderlust and Eurekafest; and writes for Thrive Global, Economia Magazine, and the StartUp and P.S. I Love You publications on Medium. Jessica trained as a Chartered Accountant and worked in corporate finance, before deciding to dedicate her time to exploring and sharing how to live more fulfilling lives we love.

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10 Habits to Transform Your Mindset During Lockdown - Thrive Global

Why 2018-19 St. Louis Blues Were The Perfect Team To End Drought – Bleedin’ Blue

Posted on June 13, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 12: The St. Louis Blues celebrate after defeating the Boston Bruins in Game Seven to win the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Final at TD Garden on June 12, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

When the St. Louis Blues hoisted the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history on June 12, 2019, they erased over 50 years of painful memories in one fell swoop. While few expected them to win it, they were actually the perfect team to win it for St. Louis.

When you consider the teams history, they dont have the longevity of teams like Chicago or Boston or Montreal. However, they have had their fair share of big names and good teams.

The Blues were not part of the Original Six, so they were not loaded with Hall of Fame talent like a Bobby Hull or Gordie Howe for years on end. Nevertheless, they had some great names.

While some were at the ends of their careers like Glenn Hall and Jacques Plante, there were plenty of up and comers like Garry Unger (who joined the team at 23), Curtis Joseph or Doug Gilmour.

It is true that most people only think of Brett Hull when they think of the Blues. If youve lived in St. Louis, obviously Bernie Federko gets thrown into that discussion as the best to wear the Note.

Nevertheless, the Blues have had tons of great names come through, whether for a cup of coffee or for long stretches. Theyve had Wayne Gretzky, Brendan Shanahan, Chris Pronger, Al MacInnis, Adam Oates, Pierre Turgeon, Red Berenson, Martin Brodeur, Scott Stevens, Grant Fuhr and more.

All those great names, many in the Hall of Fame, and none could bring the Blues to the promised land. Some were great goal scorers and put up unbelievable point totals, but the team as a whole was always missing something.

While we will always remember the 2019 team, there an argument to be made that other squads had more talent in past years.

In 1999-00, the Blues won the Presidents Trophy for the best record in the league. That team lacked scoring depth and had a goaltender that was amazing in the regular season and cost them everything in the playoffs.

In 1995-96, weve documented the pain that season caused. The team was actually under .500 that season, but you figured adding the leagues biggest name was going to bring great things that season or the next. Unfortunately, Mike Keenan happened.

The Blues had two 100-plus point scorers in 1990-91, a future Hall of Fame defender that won three Stanley Cups in New Jersey and decent goaltending. Fate had other plans as the Blues lost in the second round to the eventual finalist Minnesota North Stars.

The Blues built off their Presidents Trophy team and went to the conference final in 2001. They ran into a buzzsaw in eventual champions, the Colorado Avalanche.

St. Louis had a fantastic run in 2015-16. Early failings in putting teams away left them with no gas to beat San Jose.

So how did the Blues win it in 2019? They had zero 80-point scorers.

The last time that happened was in 2013-14. Not coincidentally, the L.A. Kings played a very heavy style, just like the Blues in 2019.

If you strip everything away though, the Blues won because they played as a team. The championship team had very good players, but nobody that was looked at to lead anytime anything went wrong.

Nobody would doubt that Vladimir Tarasenko was that teams best goal scorer. The Blues finally stopped asking him to be the only one to put the puck in the net every night.

Nobody was looking to a Scott Stevens-like defender to do all the heavy lifting. Colton Parayko and Jay Bouwmeester shut people down as a pairing.

The Blues would usually pair a more offensive defenseman with someone who took care of the other side more. That mixture gave everyone just the right responsibility and freedom, which often gives them the confidence to thrive in all three zones.

Add into the mix that Jordan Binnington played out of his mind that playoff run. His stats dont reflect it because he had several games when he was human, but he was superhuman more often than not and the NHL is the one sport when one hot player as a goaltender can win the whole thing.

Even then, the Blues did not rely completely on Binnington and nothing else. There was always someone that came up big.

If the top six had a slow start, the bottom six played with energy and either chipped in with a goal or stifled the opponent until the big guns got their legs. If the defense had a hiccup, Binnington picked them up.

When Binnington was slightly off, the offense either came up with a big goal or the defense blocked shots. And the Blues just hit, hit, hit. From a numbers point of view, they might not have had a record number of checks, but they punished every single opponent and wore them out.

It all boils down to the entire team pitching in. They were not looking to a Hull to lead the way or a Gretzky to save the day. The guys that played one or two games had as big a role in those one or two games as the guys that played all 26.

St. Louis legitimately rolled four lines that could score, hit, pester and provide energy. While you had your shutdown duo, the Blues felt no trepidation by any defensive pair going out there against the other teams best lines.

That is something rare, but something you often see in todays games winners. Stanley Cup champions are deep teams that just have that extra will and get a few bounces.

That cant be overlooked either. So many years in the past, there was that bounce that went against the Blues and it took the wind out of their sails completely.

The team that finally won it for St. Louis got a few bounces that never went their way in the past remember Ben Bishop almost losing his head off Paraykos shot? or they managed to not let any bad bounce take them out of it. *Coughhandpasscough*

In the end, by however you want to measure it, the Blues earned it in 2019 instead of just wanting it. There were better players in the Blues sweater in years past and there might have been better teams.

None could get it done. The guys finally did one year ago and now theyll be legends in the Gateway City forever.

More here:
Why 2018-19 St. Louis Blues Were The Perfect Team To End Drought - Bleedin' Blue

In appreciation of Shirley Knight, an acting model for others – Brownwood Bulletin

Posted on April 30, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Luminous is an overused word in theater criticism, but the word is aptly applied to Shirley Knight, the Tony- and Emmy-winning actress who died at age 83 on April 22 in San Marcos.

Knights daughter, Kaitlin Hopkins, founded the musical theater program at Texas State University. Although she maintained a residence in Los Angeles, Knight was a presence on the campus. She died of natural causes at Hopkins home.

A product of the Actors Studio heyday, she is linked to those method stars who may have burned brighter but probably not as consistently. There was never a part, small or star, she didn't illuminate from the inside out.

After receiving an Oscar nomination for her performance in "The Dark at the Top of the Stairs," in which she played a teenager while in her mid-20s, Knight was cast as Heavenly Finley in the 1962 film version of Tennessee Williams' "Sweet Bird of Youth," directed by Richard Brooks. Her beauty had a celestial quality that might have seemed to earn her the part. But there was more to the actress than Hollywood glamour. There were contradictions worthy of a Williams heroine. Her Heavenly combined porcelain fragility with bitter strength. The movie belonged to Geraldine Page and Paul Newman, but Knight's Heavenly clarified the drama's tragic stakes.

In his book "A Method to Their Madness: The History of the Actors Studio," Foster Hirsch captured the vital paradox that was Knight's presence: "Blonde, with dainty features and a translucent complexion, she might have become the conventional ingenue, playing a string of decorative roles. But anger churned beneath that pretty facade, and a sour expression a stingy smile tinged with irony promised thunder."

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She was committed to the work of acting, to uncovering the grit of her characters, to revealing the sand caught in the gears of the human machinery. She played Irina on Broadway in Anton Chekhov's "The Three Sisters" alongside Kim Stanley and Page in the Actors Studio production directed by Lee Strasberg, passing up the chance to be the Ophelia opposite Richard Burton's Hamlet. Her loyalty was to the community that had inspired her.

Knight, who won a Tony in 1976 for her performance in Robert Patrick's "Kennedy's Children," was a throwback to an era when acting was upheld as a rigorous discipline of craft and soul. Her career had longevity because it was predicated not on great looks but on her searching humanity.

Age, in addition to adding to her trove of Emmys (including one for HBO docudrama "Indictment: The McMartin Trial"), opened up possibilities. Twice I saw her onstage in her later years, once in Horton Foote's "The Young Man From Atlanta," in which she was nominated for a Tony for a performance so suffused with detailed life that it was astonishing such a feat of naturalism could be pulled off with so little fuss. She understood the denial of the grieving mother she played down to the brand of hairspray stiffening her coiffure. It was a performance that transformed abstract psychology into unadulterated behavior.

Almost as impressive was the way Knight, working discreetly off-Broadway in Deborah Grimberg's largely forgettable "Cycling Past the Matterhorn," endowed a playwriting doddle with intricate layers of felt experience. When I reviewed the play for the Village Voice in 2005, I commented on Knight's gift for never revealing "more than what's needed, though always more than you'd expect."

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In eulogizing Knight, I can't help thinking of her eulogy for Kim Stanley. I have a copy of the email that was read at the Actors Studio in New York in October 2001, when the city was still reeling from the 9/11 terrorist attacks. During the morning of the memorial service, New York was awash in the fresh fear of an anthrax scare. I remember wondering if I should take the subway or walk the two miles uptown. I arrived on time via subway and was uplifted by Knight's words, which communicated the values to which she held fast throughout her magnificently modest career:

I first met Kim Stanley in 1964. I was chosen by Lee Strasberg to play Irina in the Actors Studio production of Chekhov's "The Three Sisters." Imagine my excitement to discover that I was to star (in my Broadway debut) with Kim Stanley and Geraldine Page as my sisters. It would be impossible to relate how important Kim was to me in my development as an actor. I had seen her in the play about Freud and thought she gave the most extraordinary performance. One night at the beginning of the run of "The Three Sisters," Kim received applause on her exit. She came off stage muttering, "Well, that will never happen again." After the performance I asked what she meant as I assumed all applause was a good thing. She said, "Honey, if they can put their hands together, they aren't feeling (crap)." It was a revelation to me that the object as an artist was to make the audience feel and to enlighten them and that applause in the middle of a dramatic play was stopping the journey. She was always kind and loving to me as well. Another night during the run I picked up a piece of broken glass from the floor where I knew she would be kneeling. She clasped my hand and it began to bleed. She did not for a moment come out of the play but simply and lovingly placed her handkerchief on the wound. She also took me to the hospital after for stitches. Every time I look at my right palm, I am reminded of Kim. Not that I need a wound to remind me I have the memory in my mind and heart of possibly the greatest American actress in the 20th century. With love, Shirley Knight.

Knight's performances on stage and screen have etched in our memories and hearts the example of an actor who unfailingly honored her art.

American-Statesman staff writer Michael Barnes contributed to this report.

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In appreciation of Shirley Knight, an acting model for others - Brownwood Bulletin

Al Southwick: Thought of living to 150 leaves me with mixed emotions – Worcester Telegram

Posted on April 30, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Since my 80th birthday 20 years ago, I have been inundated by a flood of information about the elderly and their needs. Old age or at least anti-aging has become a cottage industry online, on television, in magazines, wherever. I thought I was pretty much inured to all that.

But now there is something new to think about. The Wall Street Journal recently published a piece on living to be 150. Rather, it published two pieces one by an epidemiologist predicting that it will happen in the next 75 years, and the second by a biologist who thinks that it wont. The two have wagered $300 apiece on the outcome, the payoff coming 75 years from now.

The possibility of living to 150 leaves me with mixed emotions, to put it mildly. I will hit 100 in a few weeks, a milestone long thought to be impressive. According to the New England Centenarian Study at Boston University, there are an estimated 343,000 folks over 100 living on the globe today, 80,000 in the United States, 800 in New England. The U.S. figures include 32,000 who are over 105. A United Nations study predicts there will be 3.2 million centenarians in 2050. Average life expectancy has jumped from 48 to 77 in the last century.

The New England Centenarian Study has been compiling statistics on old folks since 1995. It has three categories centenarians, semi-supercentarians (ages 105-109), and supercentarians (110 and up}. It now accepts only candidates who are 103 or over, so Im going to have to wait for a while. Among other findings, it has concluded that longevity is largely genetic. That figures. My older sister checked out at 103, most of my other siblings in their 90s or late 80s.

Ill admit that over the past 20 years or so I sometimes wondered if I would reach the century mark. I regarded it as a sort of goal. Now that Im on the threshold, I feel reasonably content and satisfied. I dont seem to have a goal say 105 in the same way that I used to. Why not? If I looked forward to reaching 90 when I hit 80 and to 100 when I reached 90, why would I not now anticipate 105 as my next goal?

The answer is complicated and involves subtle psychological and emotional factors. The fact is that I want to be realistic. The five years since my 95th birthday have been more difficult than the preceding five. Anyone who approaches the century mark has experienced various difficulties, physical and emotional. These do not diminish with passing of time. Anything but.

I say this as someone who has enjoyed extraordinary luck throughout my life. I got through four years of war in the Navy without a scratch. Ive had two remarkably fulfilling marriages and a satisfying career. Now, in my declining years, I have a cluster of relatives children, nieces, nephews and friends who do much to make my life a pleasing and productive experience. I cant praise them enough. The coronavirus has limited my visitor list, but I still communicate by phone and Skype with those I care about. Life is still worth living, despite the various handicaps of old age. I still enjoy it.

Tremendous advances have been made in human health since I was born. A baby girl born this week can expect to reach 80, a baby boy a bit less. On the average. Thats a huge increase over such expectations in 1920. Many diseases, once killers, have been eliminated, and the quality of life for us seniors has improved greatly, but there are limits. The agng process continues its relentless way. The centenarian study folks find that the upper limit of longevity may be 115 or thereabouts. Thats if everything everything goes right for a century or more.

I sometimes have to remind my caregivers that a 1920 model human or automotive needs constant maintenance. Its something we oldies just have to live with.

Now lets get on with it.

Originally posted here:
Al Southwick: Thought of living to 150 leaves me with mixed emotions - Worcester Telegram

Once and for all: No, we didnt get the coronavirus from bats – Haaretz

Posted on April 30, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Lets start from the punch line: Bats did not give us the latest coronavirus. Nor were its notorious cousins SARS-1 or MERS, or even the ebola virus, transmitted from bats to humans. So what did happen?

A distant relative of the current coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, was isolated in a bat in China. Genetic analyses that looked for similarity between the virus in the bat and SARS-CoV-2, and factored in the theoretical pace at which the virus mutates, estimated that the two viruses parted ways between five and 50 years ago. In other words, one possibility is that about five years ago, the bat coronavirus managed to infect some other different animal we dont know which one at this time. In that next animal, the coronavirus lived and mutated over those five years, and one day infected a human for the first time. There are other hypotheses as well.

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Science doesnt yet know where the coronavirus lurked in wait for the past few years, or when it became dangerous to people, or when the first person was infected, nor do we know which animal infected that first human. The only thing science knows for sure is that the coronavirus isolated from the Chinese bat cannot have infected humans and isnt dangerous to them.

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This fact was published two months ago, based on the genetic sequences of the bat and human viruses. This is also true in the cases of SARS, MERS and ebola despite repeated efforts to locate these viruses in bats, all that researchers found were similar viruses, or evidence of previous exposure that doesnt mean they carried the virus routinely and certainly not that they passed it to humans, despite reports that have appeared in the general press (including in Haaretz Hebrew edition, on April 19).

Bat Out of Hell

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Why do bats get such bad press in connection with viruses? In recent years there have been increasingly strident claims that bats carry zoonotic viruses, which can infect humans. But there are serious scientists who disagree with this and argue that bats are no different than other mammals in the number of zoonotic viruses that they carry, certainly if you consider the large number of species in the bat family. Around a fifth of all the worlds mammals are bats.

There are several batty characteristics that render them suspect when it comes to viruses. Their ability to fly, their presence in all parts of the world, their large colonies and the crowding in which they live; their long lives; and their proximity to humans all make them ostensibly suited to transmitting diseases.

The fact that they are mammals increases the chance of their being transmitters. This is why searching for new viruses in bats has become almost a fad among researchers; and the more in-depth the search, the more likely something will be found.

Moreover, accumulated findings show that the bat immune system is unique among mammals, and skilled in dealing with viruses. This immune system enables bats to fend off viruses, including deadly ones, by means of a moderate inflammation response that leads to immunity. As a result, many studies find antibodies in bats proof that theyve been exposed to viruses without finding the virus itself.

Without the live virus itself, the bat cannot be a carrier and certainly cant be a transmitter. This means that the important link in the chain of zoonotic transmission to humans is still missing.

Eating a bat when it is sick could cause infection, just like eating any other sick animal could, and is not recommended. As a general rule, to reduce the chance of zoonotic transmission of viruses from bats or any other animals, its best to eat them infrequently and in general to minimize encounters with them; to let them live in their natural environments and stop invading their habitats.

Its interesting to note that the amazing bat immune system apparently developed to support its unusual way of life. Bats live longer than almost any other mammals. In 2006 a Brandts bat (Myotis brandtii), weighing a mere 7 grams and about the size of your finger, was recaptured after it had been tagged by scientists in Siberia 41 years before! A mouse of similar size wouldnt live for more than two years. Such extreme longevity requires an optimal immune system.

Bats flying ability, unique among mammals, seems to have also contributed to the development of its immune system. In our studies weve found that small bats weighing no more than 30 grams can fly a distance of more than 250 kilometers in a night. The energy needs and accelerated metabolism during flight are accompanied by oxidative damage, which requires an appropriate immune system. Some believe this immune system is why bats very rarely develop cancer.

In addition, a bat who leaves its cave in the evening raises its body temperature by a few degrees within a minute. This elevated body temperature, which reaches 40 degrees Celsius or more, apparently helps kill undesirable viruses and bacteria.

Its important to stress that our love for bats hasnt blinded us (bats arent blind either, by the way). There are zoonotic viruses that are transmitted by bats such as Marburg, Hendra, Nipah and bat rabies, none of which are found in Israel. Bat viruses should be accorded the respect they deserve, but theres no reason to credit bats with viruses that arent theirs.

Prof. Yovel and Dr. Weinberg teach in the zoology department of Tel Aviv Universitys life sciences faculty.

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Once and for all: No, we didnt get the coronavirus from bats - Haaretz

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