Letter to the Editor – Gardnernews.com

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I just dont understand why so many people will not use a mask and social distance during this time in our country.The scientific information has proven that wearing a mask and social distancing helps to prevent the spread of the virus. I see people ignore the request of a business to wear a mask when you enter that business. I had a person tell me last Sunday, he felt healthy and didnt need to wear one.I understand a person can be asymptomatic and not know it. If I have that condition, I do not want to infect anyone So I will wear a mask. I understand that a mask wont necessarily keep me getting the virus, but it will for sure help me keep me from spreading it.I dont want to give it to someone and I for sure dont want to get it from someone. Does that sound like the Golden Rule? If we as a nation would live by that, in my mind, we would be a lot better off.There was a time automobiles didnt have seat belts, but as time went by it was found out a seat belt could save a life, it became a nationwide law.I hope we control this virus with social distancing, wearing a mask, and possibly a vaccine before any sort of law comes into being. Because, there is not vaccine for ignorance.From Dick Gall, Edgerton, KS

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Letter to the Editor - Gardnernews.com

Congressional candidate Q & A: Nolan Reidhead prioritizes COVID-19 help, improving the economy and police reform – Navajo-Hopi Observer

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FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. Nolan Reidhead will face Tiffany Shedd in the Congressional District 1 Republican primary Aug. 4. The winner will go up against the winner of the Democratic primary, either incumbent Rep. Tom OHalleran or Eva Putzova.

Reidhead said the top three issues in Congressional District 1 are dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, improving the economy and dealing with police reform.

Protecting people from COVID-19

Reidhead, who has had a law practice in Tucson for 22 years, said the top priority is protecting people during COVID 19. He said people need to be safe and secure.

We need to work together to show were safe. Ive been watching whats happening on the reservation. This is not the first time and I hope we learn from it, he said. We need to be prepared with PPE equipment and pharmaceuticals. We cannot be too dependent on China.

Reidhead said the federal government has a role in dealing with the pandemic, but that role should be limited within the states.

Those decisions should be made at the local level, he said. Funding can be had at the federal level. Im baffled why some funding to tribes has been held up. The funding should be allocated by the local community. States can learn from this and be better prepared, but the federal government should help with funding.

Regarding the coronavirus, Reidhead said it is important officials get good data. He said recent data shows that the amount of coronavirus cases are rising, but the amount of deaths are decreasing.

Some people are tested more than once, but counted for each time, he said.

Reidhead said the question is, What can the federal government do to help the Navajo Nation with the coronavirus outbreak?

In Europe some countries are backing away from it. Is that proper for the U.S.? he said. I dont know.

Improving the economy

Reidhead said a major step to improving the economy would be eliminating the payroll tax for at least a year.

As we come out of this, we need to get jobs and businesses going again, he said. We can work with individuals to build businesses. We need to help employers with cash flow.

Reidhead said visas for foreign workers need to be cut so those jobs can go to Americans. He said members of both parties should work together for the good of the people. He said other actions that can be taken to improve the economy are continuing loans to businesses for a longer period of time and to allow people to get into their 401K without paying taxes on them.

Its crucial to get the economy going, he said.

Supplying rural areas with infrastructure

Reidhead said supplying rural areas with infrastructure is a huge issue, especially making sure the rural areas have enough water, electricity and roads. He said this makes it important to fund technical colleges so people can get jobs quickly with the proper training. He also supports having a law school on the Navajo Nation.

Police reform

Reidhead said police reform is needed following George Floyds death. He said Floyds death was a travesty, but he said the loss of Navajo Police Officer Michael Lee was also a travesty.

There are good officers on the front line, he said about police officers, border patrol agents and corrections officers.

Reidhead said he is aware of problems with police after he had a cousin shot during a traffic stop in Phoenix. However, he said 99 percent of police serve with the intent of serving the community. He also added that there are some bad apples and better training for hiring and background checks is needed.

Reidhead said some police were brutal in their conduct and had many prior complaints about their brutality.

Those need to be fired and should not be in a supervisors role. Each year, police need to be updated on issues, just like many other professions, he said referring to annual trainings he has as a lawyer.

Reidhead said proper reforms need to be approved, but lootings and tearing down monuments are not acceptable.

Reidhead said he is pro-life and for constitutional rights.

Regarding police reforms, Reidhead said there were a lot of protests that were reasonable, but called the looting and taking over of a police precinct in Seattle improper.

It destroys the message, he said.

Reidhead said Martin Luther Kings demonstrations were done the proper way as they were responsible and peaceful. He supports law enforcement working on crossover jurisdiction to cut down on drug and human trafficking.

Helping tribes with economic development and water infrastructure

Reidhead said 2020 has not been good to the tribes with the closure of the Navajo Generating Station in Page and then the coronavirus outbreak.

It (closure of NGS) could have been saved. That cost $30-$40 million a year, he said.

Reidhead said the coronavirus brought to light some existing conditions on the reservation that many didnt know about. He said improving water infrastructure on the reservation is a top priority.

Every household on the reservation should have running water and electricity, he said. We need to allocate it properly.

Reidhead said the reservation needs more air ambulances because everybody is spread out over wide areas of land.

Supports uranium mining

Reidhead, whose family was involved in the logging industry, supports uranium mining if it can be done safely and he believes that can be done.

I worked with government agencies on the Kayenta mine and it was done safely, he said.

Local officials should decide when schools reopen

Regarding schools, Reidhead has a 16-year-old and he is waiting to see how the school district will approach the new school year. He said education decisions should be made at the local level working with family and teachers, but he added the federal government can help with funding.

He hopes the schools can open responsibly. He said the school age group has not been affected so far by the coronavirus. He said the schools may have to be half online and half with physically attending. He said there has to be more funding for laptops.

We need to keep education going. I think we can open in a responsible way, he said.

CD1 is large and varied

Reidhead said CD1 is a huge district with varied interests from Page to Tucson. He knows the district because he has relatives and friends spread throughout the district. For over 20 years, as a lawyer who works with business startups he has worked with many people in the district. He has also worked as an arbitrator with the courts for seven years.

Its important to work with varied interests to come up with proper solutions, he said.

Reidhead said he wants to serve in Congress because the nation is at a crossroads as he seeks to support traditional and small town values. He said the Golden Rule still applies.

I see politicians who are in it for themselves, he said. We need those who are not lifetime politicians.

Reidhead said CD1 and rural areas have been forgotten by Congress in the past.

Navajo County is still waiting for money, he said. I want to work for the communities.

Reidhead said he wants to bring compassionate and strong leadership to protect the rights and interests of citizens.

Reidhead said his political role models are Abe Lincoln and Martin Luther King. Lincoln because he was determined despite strong odds and King because he gave his life for his cause.

Reidhead said the primary election has been complicated by the COVID 19 causing a lot of events to be cancelled. He said this has made it harder for tribes to reach out to Republicans. He said health issues and the Second Amendment brings the tribes and Republicans together.

I think we can do better by our people, he said.

Editors Note:

This is part four in a four part series that features interviews with congressional candidates running for District 1. District 1 encompasses the Navajo and Hopi reservations.

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Congressional candidate Q & A: Nolan Reidhead prioritizes COVID-19 help, improving the economy and police reform - Navajo-Hopi Observer

Space Travel and Taxes: A Cautionary Tale of Shareholder Benefits – JD Supra

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In the recent decision in Lalibert v Canada, 2020 FCA 97, [Lalibert] the Federal Court of Appeal confirmed that the $41.8-million costs of a shareholder's visit to outer space as a "space tourist" should be taxed as a shareholder benefit, and not as a deductible marketing expense as was claimed by the shareholder and the company, Cirque du Soleil. While the circumstances of that case are unusual and exotic, the case illustrates that the shareholder benefit rules should be considered any time a shareholder receives an economic benefit from the corporation because of their position as a shareholder.

The Income Tax Act (ITA) includes a shareholder benefit regime, which is intended to ensure that a shareholder is subject to tax on any economic benefit received from a corporation, subject to certain specified exclusions for bona fide business transactions, certain reorganizations, rights offerings, dividend payments, and capital reductions. The provisions have a broad scope, with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) stating that a shareholder benefit may arise from "just about any payment, appropriation of property or advantage conferred on a shareholder by the corporation."

The consequence of a shareholder benefit is significant: the value of the benefit is included in the shareholder's income for the year as regular income (taxed at a higher rate than a dividend), but the ITA does not allow a corresponding deduction to the corporationthus resulting in an element of double tax. For non-resident shareholders, the ITA deems the benefit to be a dividend to which the normal non-resident withholding tax rules apply.

ITA subsection 15(1) includes in a shareholder's income the amount or value of a benefit conferred on the shareholder by a corporation. The key issues are thus determining whether a "benefit" exists, whether such benefit has been "conferred," and how to determine the amount of the benefit.

The term "benefit" is not defined in the ITA but is broad and can include any type of payment or advantage to a shareholder that is outside of the ordinary course of business. In the view of the CRA, "benefits" include:

In Lalibert, the Federal Court of Appeal noted that the analysis often focuses on whether or not the transaction in question was made for a business or personal purpose.

Notably, the existence of an economic benefit does not necessarily mean that the shareholder has received a taxable benefit. The benefit will attract liability for tax only if it was "conferred" on the shareholder. The word "confer" implies the bestowal of bounty or largesse, to the economic benefit of the conferree and a corresponding economic detriment of the corporation. What is key is that the corporation is impoverished and the shareholder enriched.

The case law has also found that subsection 15(1) does not always require an intent on the part of the corporation to confer a benefit or knowledge on the part of the shareholderthe requirement is whether either party knew or should have known that a benefit was conferred. In Lalibert, the Federal Court of Appeal noted that the inquiry is highly fact specific, and corporate intent will be more relevant in certain circumstances, such as when the benefit is the result of a bookkeeping error or other mistake.

The ITA requires that the benefit be quantifiable in monetary terms. The courts have applied different valuation methods depending on the circumstances, focusing on using simple common-sense approaches where possible. One typical approach is to determine what the shareholder would have had to pay for the same benefit in the same circumstances if he or she had not been a shareholder of the company.

The above principles are illustrated in the Lalibert case. The facts, in brief, are as follows. In 1984, a street performer named Guy Lalibert co-founded Cirque du Soleil. Fast-forward 25 years to 2009 when the astronomical success of Cirque du Soleil landed Lalibert in outer space as Canada's first space tourist. One of the corporations in the Cirque du Soleil group paid $41.8 million for Lalibert's 12-day trip to the International Space Station. At the time, Lalibert was the controlling shareholder of the Cirque du Soleil group of companies.

The Minister of National Revenue assessed Lalibert with a shareholder benefit equal to the full cost of the trip. Lalibert appealed, arguing that he went to space for a stunt-type promotional activity on behalf of Cirque du Soleil and the One Drop charity.

To determine whether Lalibert's corporate-paid trip to space was a taxable benefit, the Tax Court considered the purpose of the trip, the circumstances surrounding the commitment made to take the trip, the nature of the promotional activities, and the corporate accounting and tax treatment of the expense. Justice Boyle provided 27 reasons to support the conclusion that the "motivating, essential and overwhelmingly primary purpose of the travel was personal." In addition, the Tax Court found that Lalibert committed to the trip before seeking approval from anyone in the Cirque du Soleil group, and structured the payment so that the external shareholders did not bear any of the economic costs of the trip.

Since very few taxpayers will find themselves in the similar position of trying to determine whether their trip to outer space is a taxable benefit or not, Justice Boyle drew an analogy with a shareholder taking a personal cross-country trip with the occasional business stop along the way:

I have approached my decision in this case as I would have had it involved an owner-manager of a business who decided that he personally wanted to go on a cross-country trip, and then decided that, he would stop in to visit business clients and suppliers and potential clients and potential suppliers along the way. One would expect his incremental direct costs associated with his business promotion activities and sidetrips should be deductible, but that little, if any, of the trip itself would be. If he could have his company pay for his whole trip, even if it did not deduct the cost for tax purposes, it would allow him to pay for his trip in pre-tax dollars. The shareholder benefit provisions exist for just such reasons, and going offside can often result in double taxation once corrected.

Simply put, there is a difference between a business trip which involves or includes personal enjoyment aspects, and a personal trip with business aspects, even significant ones, tacked on.

As the Lalibert case illustrates, a personal trip may incorporate bona fide business activities, and it is appropriate in those circumstances to identify and deduct the incremental, direct costs associated with those business activities. With respect to Lalibert's trip, Justice Boyle allocated 10 percent of the cost of the space trip to business activities and the remaining 90 percent as a taxable shareholder benefit. The Federal Court of Appeal agreed with the Tax Court, confirming Lalibert's $37.6-million shareholder benefit and resulting income inclusion.

Shareholders should remain aware of the potential income tax implications if they use corporate assets for personal use or if a benefit is provided in some other way. For shareholders who are not preparing for a trip to outer space, the following is a list of the more common scenarios that may result in a shareholder receiving a taxable benefit:

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Space Travel and Taxes: A Cautionary Tale of Shareholder Benefits - JD Supra

Were on track to retire at 50 by living off half our salaries on no spend year – The Sun

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NICOLA Richardson and her husband Dave are doing a "no-spend year" so they can retire by the time they turn 50.

The mum-of-two has worked out they can achieve their dreams of quitting work early if they cut out takeaways, clothes and toy shopping for a whole year, reports Times Money Mentor.

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Nicola, 33, and postman Dave, 37, are six months into the 12-month challenge and so far they've saved 3,297 on a combined income of 42,000 a year.

They hope to live off 18,000 a year in retirement and estimate that they need 306,000 before they can give up their jobs.

This is on top of their state and workplace pensions but the couple won't be able to claim them until they turn 67 - the expected retirement age for men and women by 2026.

The family-of-four hopes to save 10,000 in 2020 but admits that the family have had to cut out a lot in order to achieve it.

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Nicola said: "So no clothes for us adults and only when needed for the children.

"There has been minimal purchasing of toys they dont need any more! No meals out, no takeaway food.

"We dont pay for any streaming services. No books, magazines. Our food budget is 50 a week for a family of four."

The couple from Darlington, County Durham, have two children - Alfie, four, and Charlie, two - and put away 700 every month into a stocks and shares Isa.

They've now got 38,000 tucked away in the account, five years on from when they first opened it.

Our 'no spend' year

THE family have made some sacrifices to enable them to save 10,000 in their "no spend

Of course, the risk with an investment Isa is that you can lose cash if share prices drop - Nicola says they were on track to gain around 1,600 this year from dividends but it now seems unlikely due to the coronavirus crisis.

They're strong supporters of an extreme saving movement called the Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE), which focuses on breaking free from the conventional system of work until state retirement age.

FIRE is US-based ideology that emphasises becoming self-sufficient through investing and home ownership.

The super savers started their own FIRE journey back in 2015 but have adjusted the strict saving habits to suit their lifestyle.

Nicola blogs about her restricted spending habits - which she admits didn't come naturally overnight - atthe Frugal Cottage and on her YouTube channel.

They say the aim is to retire by 50 but if they end up retiring at 55 then "that's okay too".

They've done the maths and worked out they will need to save 306,000 to be able to live off 18,000 a year in the 17 years between retiring and being of pension age.

They hope to have paid their mortgage off by 2030 so it won't eat into their living costs by the time they give up work.

As well as the cash they plough into their Isa, they try to overpay their mortgage by 185 a month. This is on top of the 737 monthly payments.

But it's not always possible to be so frugal - last month they had to dip into their savings to pay for an MOT, and last year they spent 45,000 on an extension on their house.

Nicola says that her followers often get the impression that she denies herself some of the more fun things in life but she insists that's not true.

"We have a lovely home, car, go on holiday, and the boys have gymnastics and football classes, swimming and soft play," she added.

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WELFARE WORRIESHow August bank holiday will affect Universal Credit or benefit payments

A new money-saving app reckons it can boost your bank balance by up to 1,500 a year by giving you personalised savings ideas.

Earlier this year,Martin Lewis explained how auto-saving apps could save you 1,000s.

A couple of years ago, another new appclaimed it could help you save up to 600by ditching unnecessary fees and subscriptions.

A version of this story first appeared on Times Money Mentor.

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Were on track to retire at 50 by living off half our salaries on no spend year - The Sun

Grace Agada: Concerned About How to Improve Your Chances Of Financial Success? – BellaNaija

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Financial success is one of the major goals we all have in common, mostly because money is essential for living. Regardless of our sincere desires, only a small percentage of people achieve financial success. Every year, a countless number of people write down their financial goals with hopes that they will achieve it. But only a few get to achieve it. What I find, most times, is that financial success is difficult for most people. There are two reasons why: first is the difficulty that comes from growth success requires growth; second is the difficulty that comes from ignorance ignorance leads to pain.

To improve your chances of achieving financial success, you must eliminate the pain of ignorance and embrace the pain of growth. To achieve financial success, you must follow a standard proven formula. This formula has been proven to work over the years, regardless of your race, background, or tribe. This formula applies not only to financial goals but to any kind of goal you want to achieve. It comprises six basic steps that a person must take to achieve their goals.

To understand these six steps and how you can use them to achieve your goals, lets look at this example:

The Goal of Building a Residential House

To build a residential home, a person must firstdecide they want to build their own residential home and have a strong reason that fuels that desire. Secondly, they must research about building a home. Third, they must define the principle that will govern the type of home they want to build so they do not end up with the wrong home. Fourth, they must grow their savings or take a loan if thats the option they want to explore. Fifth, they must identify a team of experts that have the expertise they do not have and can deliver on the project. Sixth, they must start building, set measurable criteria, and timeline. Then they have to track and review progress until the house is complete. It is the same formula that applies to a weight-loss goal.

The Goal of Losing Weight

A weight loss goal follows the exact same process. First, there is the decision to lose weight and a strong reason that fuels that decision. Second, there is a need to grow to a new level of knowledge about weight-loss, through research and learning. Third, there is a clear principle that governs losing weight for a particular body type and size. Fourth, you need to invest in a gym and buy exercise equipment. The fifth is the collaboration with a team of experts that are competent in weight loss in this case, coaches and nutritional experts. Sixth, taking timely action: going to the gym, eating right, and measuring progress. This six-step process follows the exact same order every time.

Why Financial Success is Hard for Most People

When it comes to financial success, most people invent a new formula. They invent formulas like pray and wait for a miracle. Gamble and hope to be lucky. Work hard, earn more income, and save leftovers. Follow the crowd, invest like them, and hope to be rich. People completely relegate a proven formula for a formula that is destined to fail. When their formula fails, they abdicate responsibility to God. They blame the country and their employers. And they hope to be lucky someday. They simply expect to get the right result from the wrong formula. Unfortunately, life does not happen this way. To achieve financial success, you must follow the standard formula. You must take 100% responsibility for your life and act on a proven strategy.

Understand Your Why

The first thing to do is to understand why you want to achieve financial success. Why is financial success important to you? What will happen if you do not achieve it? What price will it take to achieve it? These questions are important because they create the inner drive that pushes you towards success. Without a strong reason, you will fall by the wayside. Reasons drive actions and actions drive results.

Know Your Current Order of Priority

Knowing your current order of priority is important because it shows you which goals you are prioritizing per time. To understand your current priorities, you need to review your 12-months salary account statement. The top five items that consume your money each month is where your priority lies. Confirm if these items make you save more or spend more. Items that make you spend more lead to financial bondage. But items that make you save more lead to financial success. To achieve financial success, you need to eliminate, delay, cut-down, or postpone certain items on your expense list. Without this first critical step, nothing else matters. Goals that are given high financial importance will be achieved no matter how hard they get. Goals that are given low financial importance will get excuses no matter how easy they get.

Give Big Portion Savings a Chance

Savings is the decisive factor in achieving financial success because it is the only money that goes inward and enriches you. Without savings, financial success is not possible. But not all savings lead to financial freedom. There are two kinds of savings in the world. The first is the leftover savings a situation where you spend more than you save. The second is the big portion savings where you save more than you spend. The amount of money you save is critical to how fast you achieve financial success. People that love themselves invest a major part of their income towards their freedom. They create financial security that gives them the ability to live a better life. All others give away a major part of their income and suffer at the end of their career.

Choose Investments That Lead to Financial Independence

An essential thing you must do after you have saved is to invest in vehicles that work for freedom. There are three kinds of investment vehicles. The first is the investment vehicle that yields high returns and can burn up your savings in the process. High return-focused investing is a great choice when you have built a solid net-worth. The second is the investment vehicle that leads to high growth and can give you consistent and safe returns. This is a great choice when you are trying to build a solid network. The third is the investment vehicle that leads to financial independence, security, and stability. This is a great choice when you are just starting out and when you are not yet at the point where you can fund your life from a passive income.

Do you still have some pending financial goals? Do your pending goals include things like achieving financial independence, living on a life funded by a passive rather than an active income, planning for retirement, or even starting your own business. Then its high time you knocked out your financial goals using this financial goal formula.

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Grace Agada: Concerned About How to Improve Your Chances Of Financial Success? - BellaNaija

School of Medicine one of nine schools to offer Mission Act scholarships to veterans – HNN Huntingtonnews.net

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Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine was selected as one of nine medical schools to offer a new scholarship for veterans pursuing a career in medicine.

The Veterans Affairs Mission Act of 2018 created several programs to assist veterans in paying for medical school through scholarships and loan repayments, including the Veterans Healing Veterans Medical Access and Scholarship Program (VHVMASP).

Beginning with the incoming class of students in 2020, Marshall University was selected to award up to two scholarships per year to qualifying veterans. To qualify for VHVMASP, applicants must have completed their military service no more than 10 years from the time of application. They cannot receive the GI Bill or Vocational Rehabilitation funding while receiving the scholarship.

The scholarship is renewable for up to four years and covers tuition, fees, equipment and books; a stipend; and costs for two rotations at a Veterans Affairs (VA) facility during the senior year of medical school. In return, recipients must meet several obligations, including agreeing to complete residency training in a specialty that is applicable to the VA and become board-eligible in their specialty. They must also agree to become a full-time clinical provider at a VA facility for at least four years after their training.

"As a state medical school, we are always working to identify mechanisms for recruiting students from diverse backgrounds or with unique life experiences," said Bobby L. Miller, M.D., vice dean of medical education at the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine. "This scholarship provides us the opportunity to recognize individuals who have served our country while continuing to demonstrate our strong ties to the VA, upon which our medical school was founded."

Matthew W. Werhoff Jr., an entering first-year medical student, is the first recipient of the scholarship at Marshall University. Werhoff is a native of Martinsburg, West Virginia. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology from West Virginia University in Morgantown. He joined the United States Army immediately following high school graduation in 2011 and served until 2019 as a member of the Military Police Corps.

The Marshall School of Medicine was established in 1977 through federal legislation, known as the Teague-Cranston Act, that authorized the creation of five new medical schools in conjunction with existing VA hospitals. Marshall maintains its partnership with the VA through pre-clinical and clinical learning opportunities for medical students.

Other schools of medicine participating in the WHVMASP include the Texas A&M College of Medicine, University of South Carolina College of Medicine, Boonshoft School of Medicine at Wright State University, Quillen College of Medicine at East Tennessee State University, Howard University School of Medicine, Meharry Medical College, Drew University of Medicine and Science, Morehouse School of Medicine.

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School of Medicine one of nine schools to offer Mission Act scholarships to veterans - HNN Huntingtonnews.net

News | From ESL to Medical School, RIC Grad Overcomes Obstacles in Pursuit of Her Dreams – Rhode Island College News

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RIC alumnaRuth Feliz-Lima '20

On May 16 Ruth Feliz-Lima '20, a biology major with a minor in neuroscience and chemistry, sat in front of her computer at 9 a.m. to attend her virtual graduation.

For the last five years, she had been a student at Rhode Island College. As a young girl growing up in the Dominican Republic, she visited family in the United States but never thought she might live here someday. Eventually, her parents decided to move here, which was not an easy transition for her.

"I was born, raised and went to school in Santo Domingo [the country's capital city]," Feliz-Lima says. There she was able to finish her first year of medical school, before moving to Rhode Island. Looking back, she says, "When I came to RIC it was a totally difficult transition. I didn't even know where I was standing. "

Although Feliz-Lima could manage with the English she learned in her home country, she didn't feel capable or confident enough to speak it here, much less to take college courses in English. So, she decided to join Project ExCEL, a support program at RIC for multilingual students that offers English as a Second Language (ESL) courses in academic reading and writing.

"I enrolled in Project ExCEL without knowing what it was," she recalls. "But it went quite well for me. It helped me to adapt and to write essays. I had no idea how those kind of things were done. It was a good class for transitioning between regular English and academic English."

In her first year at RIC, Feliz-Lima became the first and only assistant of Shlynn Riel-Osorio, former coordinator/director of Project ExCEL, who was also an ESL teacher.

"My first day of class I met this teacher with a Hispanic surname Mrs. Riel-Osorio. I thought that because of her last name, she spoke Spanish, but that first day a Caucasian lady came to class. It ended up being her husband's last name," Feliz-Lima explains. "Mrs. Riel-Osorio was very nice to me. She helped me a lot in the transition process and guided me to find all the resources that I needed to succeed in college. She helped me apply for financial aid, state and federal scholarships and even student loans"

In 2017 Feliz-Lima met Laura Faria-Tancinco, the new coordinator of the ESL Intensive Program and Project ExCEL. "Laura is the sweetest and most hard-working person ever, which motivated me to continue working for Project ExCEL until graduation, assisting more English language learners with their needs," she says.

Thanks to Project Excel, Feliz-Lima obtained a state scholarship, which she calls "a gift from heaven," in the middle of her first semester at RIC. Later, she had to apply for student loans. Now, she feels confident that with her knowledge and hard work she will be able to find a good job and pay back her loans.

Feliz-Lima still intends to follow her dream of going to medical school. "There are many requirements to enter any graduate program. If it is related to health care, there are even more," she says. "You need to be well prepared and to wait with patience to be accepted."

Despite her early battles with language and other obstacles, including the underrepresentation of Latinos in her field, Feliz-Lima is eager to step forward and accomplish her childhood dream.

"With persistence, everything is possible. Everything requires hard work, but with effort and determination, you can achieve it," she affirms. "Just because I might need to work harder than my neighbor, doesn't mean I cannot do it."

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News | From ESL to Medical School, RIC Grad Overcomes Obstacles in Pursuit of Her Dreams - Rhode Island College News

Med students make history in Clovis – The Business Journal

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California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine's first cohort of 81 students recently had an orientation. Image via CHSU

published on July 28, 2020 - 4:06 PMWritten by The Business Journal Staff

California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine (CHSU-COM) in Clovis has officially welcomed its first cohort of medical students.

On July 21, these inaugural students began the journey to become physicians at the Valleys new medical school during orientation. The cohort is comprised of 81 students, 36% of which are from the Central Valley and 83% of which are from California.

Today is a historic moment for the Valley, said Dr. John Graneto, dean of the COM. It is my distinct pleasure to welcome inaugural class of 2024 to California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine.

During the 2019-20 admissions cycle, the admissions team received nearly 4,000 applications and invited 7% of those candidates to an in-person interview session.

The CHSU-COM admissions team seeks to admit students who possess the academic, professional and personal qualities necessary to become exemplary osteopathic physicians, Graneto said.

According to a CHSU press statement, there are 27 different languages spoken among the students, with 38% of them speaking Spanish.

A White Coat Ceremony is planned for October 20204, when the cohort will enter the medical profession.

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Med students make history in Clovis - The Business Journal

Jordan confronts tech CEOs over claims of anti-conservative bias | TheHill – The Hill

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Rep. Jim JordanJames (Jim) Daniel JordanDemocrats blister Barr during tense hearing Nadler calls for Republican members to stop 'refusing to wear masks' during Barr hearing Democrats accuse Barr of helping Trump distract from coronavirus MORE (Ohio), the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, opened his testimony at Wednesday'shearing on competition in digital marketplaces by accusing Big Tech of censoring conservative voices.

Ill just cut to the chase, Big Tech is out to get conservatives," Jordanasserted during his opening remarks at the hearing. Thats not a hunch, thats not a suspicion, thats a fact.

Jordan's remarks came at the start of a hearing featuring Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Facebook CEO Mark ZuckerbergMark Elliot ZuckerbergHillicon Valley: Tech CEOs brace for House grilling | Senate GOP faces backlash over election funds | Twitter limits Trump Jr.'s account Zuckerberg to paint Facebook as 'proudly American company,' contrast with Chinese internet model Top tech CEOs brace for House grilling MORE, Apple CEO Tim Cook and Amazon CEO Jeff BezosJeffrey (Jeff) Preston BezosBezos to stress 'strikingly large' global retail market, jobs in opening remarks before Congress Hillicon Valley: Tech CEOs brace for House grilling | Senate GOP faces backlash over election funds | Twitter limits Trump Jr.'s account MacKenzie Scott, ex-wife of Jeff Bezos, announces .7 billion in donations MORE.

Big techs out to get conservatives. Its time they face the consequences. pic.twitter.com/jfPRPL1rZ1

The GOP lawmaker listed a series of instances where social media companies have removed certain content including misinformation about the coronavirus pandemic that is contradicted by the World Health Organization in arguing that there is active, systemic censorship.

He pointed to allegations that Google was censoring the right-wing site Breitbart News and that Amazons Twitch banned President TrumpDonald John TrumpBiden hits Trump's 'law and order' message: He's trying to 'scare the devil' out of people Pelosi bashes Barr after testimony: 'He was like a blob' and 'henchman' for Trump Schumer: Trump should want COVID-19 deal to help GOP election chances MOREs channel.

Trumps account was only temporarily suspended for violating platform policies, and has since been restored.

Jordan also reminded the committee that he had pushed hard forTwitter CEO Jack Dorsey to testify during Wednesdays hearing, although the company does not face the same antitrust scrutiny as others appearing.

Subcommittee ranking member Jim SensenbrennerFrank (Jim) James SensenbrennerLobbying world House Judiciary Committee calls on Bezos to testify as part of antitrust probe GOP, Democratic senators call for more assistance to local media in coronavirus stimulus MORE (R-Wis.) also brought up allegations of anti-conservative bias during his opening remarks and first round of testimony.

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Jordan confronts tech CEOs over claims of anti-conservative bias | TheHill - The Hill

Joe Exotic Versus Michael Jordan – – Who Will Be Crowned Emmy King? – Forbes

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Two other superstars (Photo by Marc Piscotty/Getty Images)

Remember back in the early days of the pandemic?

Beyond re-educating ourselves on how to cook and eat meals at home, and other unfamiliar tasks like spending epic, quality time together as families, Covid-19 also seemed to mandate a re-discovery and mega-prioritization of TV entertainment.

Specifically, back in the early spring, televisions array of high-quality, new documentaries suddenly available provided much-needed escape in the time of sheltering-in-place.

Tiger King, featuring now imprisoned Joe Exotic (aka Joseph Allen Schreibvogel), premiered on NETFLIX NFLX just as Covid-19 began to roar through the U.S.Its tales of the colorful folks who are drawn to big cats seemed to provide the perfect distraction from the terror and anxiety we were all experiencing in real time, in the face of the worlds first pandemic in 100 years.

The documentary series not only shattered records for NETFLIX, but it also scored the most nominations for any documentary series at this years Emmy nominations ceremony.

Given its notoriety and multiple Emmy nominations, normally Tiger King would be considered the Emmy favorite.

But 2020 has been far from normal.

Soon after Tiger King rose to rule entertainment and pop cultures jungle, ESPN and NETFLIX brought forth The Last Dance, the 10 episode account of The Chicago Bulls 1998 pursuit of an unprecedented sixth NBA championship.

Another king of the jungle (Photo by John Biever/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Last Dance not only provided nostalgic highlights of that historic run, but more significantly, it offered first-ever archival footage along with recent interviews with the teams leader and reclusive star player, Michael Jordan.Jordan personally shared insights about his teams challenges, but more revealingly, what he himself was thinking and feeling since he began his historic basketball career, going all the way back to his days at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

If Tiger King was a non-fiction carnival ride, designed to give the viewer an escape into outrageous environments populated by equally bizarre personalities, The Last Dance was an utterly immersive transport back to the late 90s and earlier, featuring a central figure so extraordinary, so excellent and so intriguing, that we not only learned how the Bulls won so many titles, but at a much deeper and more gratifying depth, we were allowed to finally peer behind Supermans cape and learn what makes Michael Jordan the Greatest Of All Time.

These two documentary epics gave all of us something fresh and different to talk about, as opposed to spending our days wondering for the umpteenth time if scientists will ever find a Covid-19 cure, or if wed be able to predict when life might return to normal - - whatever that is or will be.

Other noteworthy documentary series were also nominated and thus will be competing against Tiger King and The Last Dance.

Another NETFLIX entry, Hillary, about the former first ladys near presidential win in 2016 received an Emmy nod, as well as HBOs McMillions a fun and surprising profile of the con artists and thieves involved in rigging McDonalds MCD popular Monopoly game.

Finally, PBS venerable 33 years-running stalwart, American Masters, earned the last Emmy nomination entry.

While Hillary, McMillions and American Masters all certainly have a shot, the buzz is around Tiger King and The Last Dance.

Maybe its because both performed with out-sized numbers and captured the countrys imagination in the face of an unbearable scare.

Perhaps its because they each served up equal amounts of fascination and wonder.

At the end of the day, as a fan of all of the documentary series nominated, my guess is that The Last Dance will emerge victorious, not only because Michael Jordan has an inevitable way of winning that most of us can only dream about.

The Last Dance is co-produced by NETFLIX, just as Tiger King and Hillary both are.

And these days, when it comes to debating whos winning, the answer seems to always come back to a different kind of champion - - NETFLIX, with 160 Emmy nominations (more than all of the networks combined) and winner, three of the last four years, in the documentary category.

In many ways, NETFLIX has already been crowned The Emmy King.

The top of the Emmy food chain (Photo Illustration by Mateusz Slodkowski/SOPA Images/LightRocket via ... [+] Getty Images)

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Joe Exotic Versus Michael Jordan - - Who Will Be Crowned Emmy King? - Forbes

Michael Jordan announces first recipients of $100 million pledge – Crain’s Chicago Business

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(Bloomberg)Michael Jordan and his eponymous Jordan Brand named legal and voter rights groups as the first recipients of their$100 million pledgeto the Black community.

The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and the Formerly Incarcerated, Convicted Peoples and Families Movement will each receive $1 million, Jordan said Wednesday in a statement. Black Voters Matter, a charity that focuses on increasing voter registration and turnout, will get $500,000.

The former National Basketball Association great said the priority areas for his philanthropy will be social and economic justice, as well as education and awareness causes. His Jordan Brand of sneakers and clothing is produced by Nike Inc.

Im all in with Jordan Brand, the Jordan Family and our partners, who share a commitment to address the historical inequality that continues to plague Black communities in the U.S., said Jordan, who is principal owner of the NBAs Charlotte Hornets.

On Tuesday, MacKenzie Scott, the former wife of Amazon.com Inc. founder Jeff Bezos, announced a $1.7 billion donation to causes such as racial equity, climate change and public health.

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Michael Jordan announces first recipients of $100 million pledge - Crain's Chicago Business

WATCH: MJ’s priceless real-time reaction to Bird’s 3-point dominance in ’88 – NBC Sports Boston

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The 2019-20 Celtics do not lack talent. Boston trots out four former, current, or soon-to-be All-Stars in its starting lineup.

This Celtics squad does not lack chemistry. A year after a misfit roster contributed to Bostons early playoff exit, this years team was constructed with a Kumbaya focus and players genuinely seem to enjoy each others company, both on and off the court.

But if these Celtics get bounced early in the bubble playoffs, there will likely be one culprit, something that the team has most certainly lacked in recent seasons: Health.

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Yup, when the internet nicknames your team the "Hospital Celtics" because of a propensity to be without top talent, its not a great sign. Before this season paused, Boston had its top 7 rotation players available in the same game only eight times. The teams preferred starting 5 played just 188 minutes together in 17 games.

There were times this season when players wondered out loud if this Celtics squad would ever get to see what they were capable of at full health. The Orlando restart may finally give Boston a chance to better explore its true potential.

Or injuries could leave this team forever questioning what could have been.

The Celtics will enter Fridays first seeding game against the Milwaukee Bucks at near full health. Yes, the team is treading cautiously with Kemba Walker and the sore left knee that has lingered since the start of the calendar year, but Boston is betting that it can be close to full strength in the postseason if it manages Walkers workload on the ramp there.

The Celtics will still be crossing their fingers that no one else gets dinged up or worse.

Gordon Hayward is further removed from his ankle woes at the start of his Boston tenure and Marcus Smart has rarely been able to enter a playoffs while not rushing himself back from an injury. The Celtics must hope that Smart doesnt puncture something diving through the plexiglass near the scorers table because he refuses to social distance from loose balls.

Health is particularly important for this Celtics team because this group is thin on experience. While Boston can lean heavily on its core 5 Walker, Hayward, Smart, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown a group that could account for upwards of 75 percent of total minutes in the postseason, the team is still thin on playoff experience at the other end of the roster. Even if veterans Daniel Theis, Enes Kanter, and Brad Wanamaker chip away at whats left over for playing time, the team is still dangerously young outside its top 8.

Celtics Talk Podcast: Is Jaylen Brown going to dominate the bubble?| Listen & subscribe | Watch on YouTube

In fact, Boston has seven rookies with zero playoff experience. Second-year big man Robert Williams barely had a cup off coffee in last years postseason. It would be asking a lot of any young player to give more than spot minutes, though a breakout from any of them would certainly alleviate depth concerns.

All of which leaves Boston one ill-timed sprained ankle away from its playoff march getting exponentially more difficult.

From the team that brought you Kyrie Irvings knee, Gordon Haywards ankle, Isaiah Thomas hip, Kevin Garnetts knee, and Larry Birds back, the injury bug is a real concern. This years team yearns to see whats possible if the bug elects to chomp elsewhere.

Yes, the Celtics have the necessary talent to make a playoff trek and health woes might be the only thing that could really put a spoke in Boston's wheel.

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WATCH: MJ's priceless real-time reaction to Bird's 3-point dominance in '88 - NBC Sports Boston

Jordan to open its first drive-in theatre – Arab News

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JEDDAH: A Saudi woman chef is turning her love of food into a global adventure.

Mayada Badr is an international chef and CEO of Saudi Arabias Culinary Arts Commission, which aims to bring young talents to the international table.

The commission also helps preserve Saudi culinary techniques by identifying, coding and listing traditional recipes.

Even after getting a formal degree, Badr wanted to learn more about the culinary arts, so she spent three years studying for a grand diploma at the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu culinary school in Paris.

FASTFACT

The Saudi Ministry of Culture has set up 11 cultural commissions to promote and manage each cultural sector in the Kingdom.

She then decided to broaden her experience working with acclaimed chef Jacques Chibois at his two-star Michelin restaurant in Grasse, north of Cannes.

Badrs instincts as a chef and her training with Chibois have made her one of the most accomplished chefs in Saudi Arabia.

Now she is excited to see Saudi cuisine finding a place at the international table.

The Kingdom has many flavorful delights just waiting to be enjoyed, Badr said. She offers something as simple as dates as an example, saying there is a huge variety available in Saudi Arabia while only two or three are known internationally.

Badr looks forward to turning her passion into a movement that may change the culinary history of the Kingdom.

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Jordan to open its first drive-in theatre - Arab News

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Dustin May, Jordan Montgomery get their shot; Oliver Drake’s job to lose in TB? – CBS Sports

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Watch Now: Current State of the MLB Season (3:03)

One thing we worry an awful lot about at the start of any given Fantasy baseball season arguably too much is who is in the lineup or rotation to start the season. Kyle Tucker's omission from the Opening Day lineup was met with much teeth gnashing by the Fantasy industry, but he's started three of the past four games now. And with Taylor Jones sent to the alternate site and Aledmys Diaz on the IL, the competition's gotten a lot thinner for Tucker these days.

Talent typically wins out, especially when that talent gets a foot in the door. To quote Dr. Ian Malcolm in Jurassic Park, "Life uh finds a way."

Which is all to say that, when Dustin May stepped into the rotation on Opening Day to replace an injury Clayton Kershaw, we should've known it wouldn't be the last we would see of him. While Kershaw seems likely to be back in the rotation for his next turn, May should get another opportunity to start, and given how impressive he was in his first appearance, that is enough to make him a must-add Fantasy option.

Here are three more pitchers about to get their chance in the rotation, along with a few other of the top waiver-wire options to consider based on Tuesday's news and action. And, remember what the doctor said.

Wednesday's Waiver Targets

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Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Dustin May, Jordan Montgomery get their shot; Oliver Drake's job to lose in TB? - CBS Sports

The story behind Miami’s Colored Beach – The Miami Times

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Such fond memories could come from only one place in the world, and indeed only one place in the segregated South during the Jim Crow era, when Miamis uniquely thriving African American community turned racism on its head and prospered despite, and because of racist restrictions, due to a combination of savvy political consciousness, professional and business achievement, and raw confidence and courage to speak truth to power.

This was certainly the case in 1945 as World War II was winding down. The African American national Double V campaign -- for victory over fascism abroad and victory over discrimination at home -- energized renewed demands around the country for social justice and equality. This was especially true for Colored soldiers and sailors returning home after suffering countless bitter indignities during the war despite their patriotism and heroism.

Miamis African American community leaders targeted the glaring absence of any place among the miles of sandy beaches where white people from around the world were being welcomed. On May 9, 1945, a full decade before peaceful civil disobedience protests would become the primary strategy of the Civil Rights movement, an intrepid group of Colored bathers, including two women, Ms. May Dell Braynon and Ms. Mary Hayes Sweeting, and two sailors who eagerly joined the effort, left Overtown and dared to wade in the water at the site of present-day Haulover Beach. The group, having alerted the sheriff to their presence, intending to be arrested. Attorney Lawson E. Thomas was on hand with cash to immediately pay their bail, for their case would come before the courts and possibly lead to more sweeping legal changes.

Their bold action successfully forced the County leaders to avoid any such embarrassment and commit to the opening of 80+ acres and a half-mile of shoreline on Virginia Key as a Dade County Park for the exclusive use of Negroes as early as August 1.

On that date more than 100 Negroes according to the*Miami Herald,*arrived by boat, making use of the temporary buildings that had been built for the occasion, with the promise of future improvements that would make the park very nearly equal in its amenities to the much larger White-only beach on neighboring Key Biscayne.

That promise would be kept, especially after the completion of Rickenbacker Causeway in 1947 made the park accessible by automobile, with the construction of a permanent park superintendents residence, rental cottages and cabanas, popular concession stand, small park office and first-aid station, picnic pavilions, and most notably, a merry-go-round and Mini Train amusement rides, features unheard of in typical segregated Colored parks of the South.

Little wonder then that it would become such a cherished destination for visitors, including nationally known celebrities, as well as South Florida locals who made the beach a hub of African American social, cultural, romantic, spiritual, and family life during its heyday of the 1940s and 50s.

In 1959 another bold wade-in demonstration at White-only Crandon Park took place, this time by community leaders Mr. Garth C, Reeves, the Rev. Canon Theodore R. Gibson, and Mr. Oscar Range, which brought a quiet but effective end to the segregation of Miamis beaches. County authorities, seeing no further need of maintaining two separate beaches, closed Virginia Key. It was not long before popular demand forced the reopening of the beloved park with its shady picnic areas, which would now welcome people of all ethnicities and begin a vibrant new life, leading up to the memorable Splashdown Parties of the 1970s.

In 1982, after ownership of the park changed from County to City, the Miami City Commission, citing high operating costs, closed the park once again. So it would remain for more than two decades, except for a few special events (including movie shoots) and police training exercises, its old but solid structures slipping into neglect and disrepair.

By 1999, with the City in another of its recurring financial crises, a plan was launched for private developers to lease the abandoned site for construction of an exclusive resort. This immediately became controversial as it would have deprived the public of public use of public land, was being planned with little or no regard for the projects impact on the fragile barrier-island environment, and, most notably, would have bulldozed the historic a historic site with so many stories to tell.

Fortunately, a broad coalition of people who had been brought together by the need to save the 2,000-year-old Native American Miami Circle learned of these plans for Virginia Key and quickly went into action, expanding its numbers to include more of the African American community who rallied to the cause, with beloved longtime community matriarch Mrs. M. Athalie Range, a former Miami City Commissioner herself, emerging as the appropriate, eloquent and persuasive spokesperson for the whole effort.

The Commissioners, ably guided by the late, Arthur E. Teele Jr., readily embraced the communitys vision of more intelligent use of the land by restoring the park to its former splendor as a Civil Rights memorial and environmental landmark.

The City established first a community Taskforce which would eventually become the Virginia Key Beach Park Trust. Chaired by Mrs. Range, who was vital in obtaining funding from the County Commission, With the help of then-Chairperson Dr. Barbara M. Carey Shuler dollars were secured to support the construction of a Museum as part of the park, to tell its stories.

With those commitments in place, the Trust began its work of reclaiming and restoring the old historic park, including necessary environmental improvements made possible by Federal support through former Congresswoman Carrie P. Meek.

The park reopened in grand style in February 2008, beginning appropriately with a Native American Blessing by spiritual leader Mrs. Catherine Hummingbird Ramirez, a longtime supporter, the distinguished Dr. Joseph Lowery, a co-founder, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), as Keynote Speaker.

Today, the Trust continues its work in daily management and operation of the park and, more notably, the planning and design of an indoor/outdoor historical/environmental museum on track to be constructed within the next three years.

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The story behind Miami's Colored Beach - The Miami Times

Three Long Island Beaches Close After High Levels Of Bacteria Discovered – Daily Voice

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A pair of Suffolk County beaches and one in Nassau County have been temporarily closed to swimmers due to high levels of bacteria in the water.

Health officials announced on Wednesday, July 22 that Venetian Shores Beach in Lindenhurst and Benjamin Beach in Bay Shore have been temporarily shut down when tests determined the water was contaminated.

Crescent Beach in Glen Cove is also closed due to elevated bacteria levels from the Long Island Sound.

Beach closure and re-opening assessments are conducted on a daily basis as new sampling results are received. The beaches will reopen once the tests come back showing an acceptable level of contamination.

According to health officials, bothEnterococciandE.colibacteria can be introduced to recreational waters from a variety of sources, including stormwater runoff, resident waterfowl populations, failing or poorly operating septic systems, sewage spills, boats and marinas, floatable debris, and from bathers themselves.

At marine and coastal beaches in Suffolk County, stormwater runoff is the predominant source of bacteria-laden water, according to the Department of Health. Stormwater runoff becomes contaminated with bacteria as it flows across roadways, yards, parking lots, and other lands.

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Three Long Island Beaches Close After High Levels Of Bacteria Discovered - Daily Voice

Thailand’s beach resorts have reopened to domestic tourists. Here’s what guests can expect – CNN

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Hua HIn, Thailand (CNN) For travelers around the world, visiting a tropical beach resort in Thailand feels like a far-off dream right now due to Covid-19 travel restrictions.

The country's borders remain closed to international tourists and plans for an aviation "bubble" with other nations continue to sputter.

Thailand's tourism sector, which contributes close to 15% of its GDP according to the World Bank, has been severely impacted.

For the moment, domestic travelers are infusing some much-needed cash into the ailing industry. Thailand hasn't reported a locally transmitted Covid-19 infection in more than 50 days, giving travelers a sense of security as they hit the road.

Though destinations like Koh Samui and Phuket continue to suffer from the lack of overseas visitors, resort towns within driving distance of Bangkok are taking advantage of locals' urge to travel following weeks of lockdown.

Among these is the seaside town of Hua Hin.

Located about a 2.5-hour drive from Bangkok, it's Thailand's first beach resort, having become a popular retreat for royalty and upper-class families in the early 1900s.

Today, you'll find a wide mix of accommodation offerings, from guest houses to five-star luxury properties, including many big global brands.

CNN Travel recently visited three different high-end Hua Hin properties -- all experiencing high occupancy rates -- and spoke with their managers to find out how they're adapting to Thailand's post-Covid realities and what guests can expect during a stay.

The family-friendly resort: Anantara Hua Hin

Anantara Hua Hin has been booked solid most weekends since the country eased its lockdown measures in late May.

kiattipong panchee/anantara

Part of the Minor Hotels group, the beachfront Anantara Hua Hin is known for its family-friendly offerings and is a popular choice for those in search of that traditional Thai resort experience. A sprawling, low-rise property, it was designed to look like a local village with tropical landscaping and lotus-filled lagoons.

Guests can choose from a mix of 190 rooms and suites, some overlooking the lagoons and gardens, others with ocean views.

During a recent weekend visit, the resort was filled with Thai and expat travelers.

"We expected to be busy when we reopened but the demand was beyond our initial forecast and it truly was incredible," says Anantara Hua Hin general manager Graham Ure.

"We are seeing a lot of last-minute demand for the destination -- weekends presently we are running at 100% occupancy."

Checking in: Before guests enter the lobby, they need to stop at a desk to fill in a form with their contact info and have their temperatures checked. (The pens are taken from one jar, then, after use, are placed in another to be sterilized.)

Cleared to enter, guests then head to the check-in desks in the lobby, where large plexiglass screens provide a barrier between staff and guests.

To make cleaning easier after guests' departure, all remote controls have been wrapped in plastic.

Karla Cripps/CNN

Inside the rooms: You won't notice it, but some of the dcor has been removed to decrease "touch points," say staff. There's a UVC ozone disinfection light on each desk, which is turned on prior to each new arrival.

TV/stereo remotes are wrapped in plastic for easier cleaning. Guests are each provided with an amenities kit containing a mask and hand sanitizer.

At the pool: During our visit, families splash in the resort's main pool, some enjoying happy hour at the swim-up bar.

Deck chairs are in abundance, and drink/food service is available as normal.

The only noticeable change is with towels. Nobody is handing them out poolside. Instead, guests get a set of pool towels in their room to bring with them to the pool/beach, so as to reduce handling and washing.

Mask use: Staff wear masks at all times. Usage is optional for guests, with the exception of the dining areas.

Buffet dinners are still happening at Anantara, but with a few changes in place. Food is laid out behind plexiglass barriers and stations are manned by staff.

Pongpat Patumsuwon

Dining out: Yes, buffet breakfasts and dinners are still happening, but for the most part guests don't serve themselves.

Food sits behind plexiglass barriers and masked staff man the stations. Diners are requested to wear masks while collecting food but can remove them when seated.

Another noticeable change: cloth napkins are no longer used. it's all about the paper now, again to cut down on handling and washing.

Still nervous about dining in large public spaces? Take advantage of Anantara's "Dining by Design" option. Staff can set up a lovely, tailor-made seaside dinner for your group.

Safety measures: When asked about the biggest changes to operations since reopening in June, general manager Ure points to Anantara's rigid new "Stay With Peace of Mind" program.

"This program builds on existing health and safety regimens to implement heightened sanitization and hygiene measures," he says. "At Hua Hin we still want to offer our traditional Thai hospitality and charming service but in a safe environment."

These guidelines extend to back-of-house operations that guests won't see, he says, from team member temperature checks and supply chain deliveries to culinary preparation areas.

The luxury villa experience: V Villas Hua Hin

When it comes to social distancing, you can't beat a private villa.

V Villas

For travelers who want an added level of privacy, a spacious pool villa is definitely the way to go right now.

In Hua Hin, V Villas -- part of global hospitality group Accor -- is among the leading options thanks to its location close to the town center on one of the nicer stretches of beach.

Made up of one-, two-, and three-bedroom pool villas, V Villas also has its own large beachfront swimming pool and the beautiful Villazzo restaurant, but many of its offerings are designed to be enjoyed in the privacy of your own villa.

According to General Manager Nicolas Peth, they've been overwhelmed by interest.

"Hua Hin is booming," he says. "I love the fact that it's known again for all the right reasons -- it's a family destination, offering a nice weekend on the beach. We've been successful because of what we offer -- fabulous service and privacy. We are so busy. Week days, weekends -- I've never had to say 'sorry but we're full' to so many people. It's a good problem to have."

At Hua Hin's V Villas, floor markers remind guests to practice social distancing at the check-in counter.

Karla Cripps/CNN

Checking-in: In the resort's small lobby, plexiglass dividers have been placed on the counter to separate staff from guests and social distancing markers have been pasted on the floor.

In the rooms: In the pool villas, guests won't notice too many changes -- the increased sanitation measures all take place before you arrive.

Each villa comes with a private butler who is able take care of all requests, from reservations to housekeeping, meaning contact with other staff members is kept to a minimum.

Mask use: Staff wear masks at all times. Guests are requested to wear them while checking in and serving themselves at the breakfast buffet, but it's fine to keep them off in other areas of the resort, such as by the pool.

Dining: The buffet breakfast lives on here too and there's also a small menu with Thai and Western offerings.

Some of the items are available for self-serve, though others are at stations manned by masked staff. Tables have been spaced out, with seats two meters apart.

Those wanting to avoid crowds can ask their butler to arrange a number of in-villa dining experiences, such as high tea, a "floating" pool breakfast or a private BBQ.

Around the pool: Loungers are also spaced out but, this being a small resort filled with private pools, the main pool was never used by more than a handful of people at a time during our visit.

Safety measures: V Villas strictly follows Accor's international ALLSAFE program, which includes enhanced cleaning and disinfection measures.

"ALLSAFE is an upgraded program but we were already very strict before anyway," notes Peth. "When you're selling villas at that price it has to be super clean. It's all about training, safety and taking care of our guests."

The boutique experience: Cape Nidhra

Cape Nidhra is a boutique 60-suite property.

Cape Nidhra Hotel Hua Hin

Another property benefiting from its closeness to Bangkok is Cape Nidhra, part of the Thai-owned Cape and Kantary Hotels group.

For travelers who would prefer to avoid large, crowded resorts, this boutique luxury beachfront property in the center of town is an ideal option.

Made up of about 60 suites, all of which come with plunge pools, Cape Nidhra has done a fine job of distinguishing itself from the bigger chains by offering unique touches and exceptional service, alongside a strong commitment to sustainability.

"We don't have the same level of resources as the global chains so we try to offer something personal and give all our heart," says owner Tirawan Taechaubol.

Rather than open all suites at once, Tirawan says they eased into things gradually to ensure their new Covid-19 policies could be carefully implemented by staff. Following a soft launch in June they officially reopened on July 1 and have experienced high occupancy rates since.

"Nobody wants to go on the plane right now," she explains. "Hua Hin has a reputation for offering a nice, clean beach, and the town is what Thais classify as a more upper-class resort than others you can travel to by car. With the prices coming down -- everyone is discounting, especially on weekdays -- it opens more opportunities for people to be able to afford Hua Hin. So it's more packed than normal."

Checking in: There are no plastic dividers on the lobby desk here. Instead, masked staff wear plastic visors. Visitors are asked to place their passports and credit cards on a tray rather than pass them to staff directly. Guests are also given an amenity kit that includes a mask and hand sanitizer.

In the rooms: Guests won't notice many changes, but there's plenty going on behind the scenes including additional disinfection measures. Even the remote controls are sprayed, says Tirawan.

Masks: All staff wear masks, some with additional plastic visors. Again, guests are requested to use them in the dining areas but they're not required around the pool or during spa treatments.

Guests in search of added privacy can book their own seafood buffet dinner with a private chef.

Karla Cripps/CNN

Dining: The resort's Rocks Restaurant serves a mix of global and local seafood specialties, while upstairs is the stunning On the Rocks bar, which offers views over the Gulf of Thailand. Social distancing measures are in place in both venues, with chairs and tables spaced out.

Guests are asked to use the provided hand sanitizer before being seated.

The breakfast buffet features a variety of self-serve items, some protected by plexiglass screens, and guests are able to order some dishes through staff as well. Utensils are wrapped in plastic -- a necessary evil Tirawan admits she hates -- to ensure they're only touched by one staff member.

Travelers looking for added privacy can arrange a tailor-made beachfront dinner, including buffet style, overseen by a personal chef.

At the pool: Around the resort's large pool, chairs are spaced out according to Cape Nidhra's social distancing policy. Pool towels are handed out by staff in cloth laundry bags -- guests are asked to pull them out themselves.

Safety measures: "Everything is distanced and disinfected and we've minimized the number of people who touch things," says Tirawan. " Apart from that I've tried to keep it as normal as possible."

That said, she acknowledges the policies may have to change according to the situation on the ground.

"Right now, our numbers in Thailand have gone down, all people infected are in quarantine," she says. "When international tourists come back our precautions will likely increase. We can't afford a second wave."

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Thailand's beach resorts have reopened to domestic tourists. Here's what guests can expect - CNN

Man wanting to go to Mars isolates for 366 days in tiny home with 5 others as part of study – CBS17.com

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RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) A man in Hawaii wants to be selected to go to planet Mars one day and hes doing everything he can right now to prepare.

Tristan Bassingthwaighte is an architect and is researching and designing habitats that humans can survive in on the moon and Mars. He wants a one-way ticket to the red planet.

While it might suck for me personally to get to Mars, what that could bring back to the species eventually through the many things we need to make it possible, is how we move forward as a species really, Bassingthwaighte said.

In 2016, he spent 366 days in a tiny habitat located on top of a volcano on Hawaiis big island. The year-long stay was part of an ongoing study by the University of Hawaii and NASA. The HI-SEAS (Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation) is a habitat 8,200 feet above sea level on Mauna Loa. The conditions are designed to be similar to those of a planetary exploration mission.

Tristan was part of mission four in 2016 and said It was really fun, but added he knows a lot of people were worried about the isolation or the confinement, or youre going to be living in a little room type of thing for a year, but Ive always wanted to be an astronaut since I was like six.

The crew of six had to eat like they were in space and wear a spacesuit to go outside. Tristan said the whole idea is to create a crew that can survive the trip and stay.

Youll go in and find out that I might want to go to Mars, but hanging out with the same five people in a close quarter for a year or a real Mars mission, two years, might be a little much, Bassingthwaighte said.

He said the biggest thing he learned was that there can be people on a mission that have all of the skills and would be good at it, but their focus could never really move outside of themselves.

I was just surprised that even people with doctoral degrees and have worked with NASA before, not everyone was actually a team player, Bassingthwaighte said.

He said the year-long isolation on Hawaiis volcano allowed scientists to gather information on how to make better space habitats.

I want to be the theoretical lead designer for the Mars Colony for SpaceX, said Bassingthwaighte.

CBS 17s Laura Smith had to ask Tristan how hes handling quarantine because of coronavirus after spending a year in a tiny home with five other people. He said the biggest advice he can give is not to focus on when it will end.

So instead of looking for some future thing that we obviously cant pin down, you know what you really could do, is figure out what will get you through today and pretend that its the new normal, he said.

He said pick up a hobby and be selfish when you can.

Unlike work here on Earth, youre stuck with that person so you just have to find levels of patience that maybe you didnt know you had. Id go to my room and read and listen to music for an hour or two. If you rather just play Mario Kart, then just go play Mario Kart, like take care of yourself, Bassingthwaighte said.

HI-SEAS continues to study how humans will survive on the moon and mars. However, the pandemic is slowing the study down.

We have had several missions take place this year and we will have more starting in September. We had to delay four missions in collaboration with NASA to next year due to the pandemic, said HI-SEAS Director Michaela Musilova.

NASA also plans to send people to mars and the moon. You can learn more here about that.

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Man wanting to go to Mars isolates for 366 days in tiny home with 5 others as part of study - CBS17.com

February looks to be exciting month for Mars exploration – The Robesonian

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July 25, 2020

LUMBERTON It takes a village to raise a child.

Thats what Rhandi Cooper and Tyrell Taylor were thinking when the concept of The Village was born.

The Village is one of, if not, the newest nonprofit organization to pop up in Lumberton targeted toward helping at-risk youth in the area.

It started as an idea and turned into a movement, said Taylor, the organizations vice president. Weve got school teachers, a photographer, barbers. Theres a whole bunch of us, thats why we call ourselves The Village.

A group of us came together and just brainstormed on what we wanted to do and how we wanted to go about helping children and empowering them, Cooper said.

Cooper, 31, is president of The Village. She said that being a native of South Lumberton and being a single parent to her children gave her knowledge of what is needed for youth in the community. She is working toward a degree in Mathematics Education, with the goal of becoming a high school teacher.

I have two kids, a boy and a girl, and Ive always been inspired to help other youth, Cooper said.

Her childrens father is deceased, and she wanted to help others who are growing up in single-parent households or in poverty, Cooper said.

A lot of kids are raised in single-parent homes, and a lot of kids grow up in poverty, and I just wanted them to have something positive to do especially right now while theyre out of school and nothing is really going on, she said.

Taylor, 36, has been in Lumberton for the past 23 years. He grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and said both cities has similar struggles when it comes to youth. He grew up a troubled teen without a father and his mother worked three jobs to get them through, Taylor said.

A lot of kids are living the same lifestyle, he said. Im not going to say its all the same everywhere but every neighborhood Ive been from, Ive seen the same thing poverty, no role models, nobody to look up to and Ive realized if I can do something to help then I will.

The Village is in its beginning stages, still growing its membership of youth and volunteers. Cooper and Taylor envision the nonprofit growing into a program that offers youth role models, activities to keep them busy and opportunities in the real world.

I want them to have some positive role models, Cooper said. Theres a lot of bad stuff going on but theres also a lot of good stuff and we want to bring that to the forefront so the children can see it.

We want to show them theres more than whats out there in these streets, Taylor said. We want to give them hope, inspiration.

Operations are slow but steady in spite of COVID-19.

We got a lot of ideas for The Village that we cant do yet because of the pandemic, Taylor said. Hopefully things will turn around soon.

The Village was able to host its first event, called Steering the Wheel of Life Bike Ride, recently, which involved about 20 children and five adults biking down the trail from Fifth Street in Lumberton to Luther Britt Park. Once they reached the park, youth were provided a lunch and given educational materials.

It turned out pretty good. The kids had fun, and we had a lot of participation from kids and the adults, Cooper said. Adults just showed up to help out.

For updates or more information about The Village or events, visits the groups Facebook page The Village, or send an email to thevillagelumberton@gmail.com. Applications will be available soon for people who want to volunteer.

We welcome everyone, so come and be a part of this, Taylor said. I see it growing into something really, really big.

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Weekly Digest (July 20-24, 2020): Top Weather, Environment and Science Stories of the Week – The Weather Channel

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The launch of Chandrayaan-2.

Here are the top stories of the week.

A Year Since Chandrayaan-2 Launch, India Prepares to Touch the Moon with Chandrayaan-3

In spite of the failure in the Vikram Lander aspect of the Chandrayaan-2 mission, ISRO has remained intent on stepping foot on the Moon, and it aims to achieve the same by next year through the Chandrayaan-3 mission. To know more about the C3 mission and its current status, see here.

Mars Lays Red Carpet: Three Earthly Visitors Take Flight Towards the Red Planet Within 11 Days

The enthusiasm to explore the possibility of life beyond the planet Earth and the curiosity to understand the origin of our solar system are at peak in the 21st century. A top contender in the list of possible hosts to establish future human colonies is Mars. Therefore, launches for multiple missions to the Red Planet have been lined up for the next few days. Check them all out here!

Scientists Discover 37 Sleeping Volcanoes on Venus; Evidence Hints at Planet Being Geologically Active

As many as 37 recently active volcanic structures have been identified on Venus, thereby providing ground-breaking evidence that Earths neighbouring planet remains a geologically active world. These findings could now help identify where the geologic instruments should be placed for future Venus missions. Full story here.

India Begins Production of Oxford Coronavirus Vaccine Covidshield; SII to Create 30 Crore Doses by Year-End

Representational image

The production of the Oxford coronavirus vaccine named Covidshieldone of the frontrunner COVID-19 vaccine candidates in the worldhas begun in India. Initial estimates suggest at least one billion doses of the vaccine will be produced in India, which would make the country the largest producer of the COVID-19 vaccine on the planet. Full story here.

Homemade Single-Layer Cloth Masks Not Enough to Prevent COVID-19 Spread; At Least Two Layers Needed: Study

Homemade cloth face masks need at least two layers, and preferably three, in order to successfully prevent the dispersal of COVID-19-causing viral droplets from nose and mouth, a new study has indicated. Further, the study found 3-ply surgical face mask the most effective at reducing airborne droplet dispersal. More details here.

Ancient Genes Make South Asian Population Vulnerable to COVID-19: Study

As the world grapples with COVID-19, researchers are still trying to understand the virus better. Now, preliminary evidence suggests that the traces of ancient genes in our body may have some link to our vulnerability to the ongoing outbreak of novel coronavirus. More on this here.

First Bout of Monsoon Rains Knock Out Delhi's Daily Life on Sunday (PHOTOS)

A DTC bus almost submerged at waterlogged Minto Bridge underpass after rains in New Delhi on Sunday.

Strong winds, heavy rains and thunderwhile this may sound just the ideal Sunday morning for many Delhiites, there were scores in Delhi who wouldn't agree, as heavy rains reportedly killed four people, damaged houses and flooded roads last Sunday. A few glimpses of monsoon's first bout on the capital here.

Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2020: The Funniest Entries So Far (PHOTOS)

The Mars Petcare Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2020 is well underway, and entries continue to pour in from across the world! As we wait to see the most hilarious photos of the year, the Awards have released some of the best submissions they have received thus far. Check these funny shots out here!

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Weekly Digest (July 20-24, 2020): Top Weather, Environment and Science Stories of the Week - The Weather Channel