John Whittet dedicated to excellence in community coaching – BayToday

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"The longer Ive been around the more and more I appreciate the people that have come before us that have done so much"

Rooted is all about the people and places that make us proud to call our community home.

There is no shortage of opportunities to coach at some level of athletics in North Bay. Between all the minor sports, high school level, major junior and College/University ranks, there are people who year-round are teaching and helping athletes fine-tune their craft.

Of all the coaches within the city of North Bay, only one gets recognized every year by the North Bay Sports Hall of Fame Awards Committee as the Al Brennan Memorial Trophy winner for the Coach of the year in North Bay and District.

Peter Handley, Bert Templeton, Bill Jacko and Larry Sheppard are just a few of the recognizable names that have been honoured with this award since its inception in 1977 and in 2018, long-time St. Joseph Scollard Hall Bears Coach John Whittet was bestowed with that award.

It was quite an honour, certainly wasnt expected, says Whittet.

I was happy to get it and my family was happy for me too.

Whittet says he might not have gotten into coaching in the first place had it not been for a few influential people in his life during high school.

Ive always felt everything happens for a reason, saidWhittet.

I remember in grade 10it was a combination of my dad telling me that I have to find a job that Im going to like, because it's going to be something you will spend a lot of time doing. And I had two Phys Ed teachers at Scollard, Mike Doyle and John Elkins who just seemed to be having the time of their life and that kind of all hit me as something I would really like to do. Combining sports and a good job. So, I pretty much had my mind made up then.

Whittet is most well known for his play calling as the Head Coach of the Bears football team, but thats not the only team he has had the pleasure of drawing up game plans for. In fact, it started with a community-based team.

I started coaching with the North Bay Legion Track Club when I was going to University and it didnt really stop after that point.

Whittet says after finishing with his education in teachers college at Nipissing University, he got a job in Collingwood where he taught at the elementary level for nine years.

I coached everything I could," Whittet reflected.

"It was a great way to interact with students and get to know people and then in 1999 I got hired at my alma matter at St. Joseph Scollard Hall and again, I coached whatever, and wherever they needed me to. Football, Baseball, Track and Field, Curling. And then in town, I got involved with minor hockey, and Stingers Baseball.

For those keeping count at home thats a different sport for every season; with some of those even overlapping. Dedicating that kind of time to cultivate those young athletic minds is no easy task, and once you do that for a while, Whittet says, the thought always crosses your mind, about possibly entering the professional ranks.

Whittet adds, I really like my job, I like being a teacher and coaching at the high school level. But you go to some of the clinics. We went to one in Michigan State, and York University, and one at Guelph, and you just see the level of commitment from the professionals they bring in to speak at those clinics and that in itself is amazing. Those people that coach at that level is just another step above. When you get to see what they do, its a completely different level. In my personal life though, I dont think I was ever thinking of pursuing that. Maybe as a younger person first getting into it, but I was 30 years old when I moved back home and started coaching football.

It really does show the amount of work and dedication there is at that stage. The amount of work, the amount of video, the amount of everything that they do is mind-boggling really.

But coaching at the high school level can require just as much background work, video and dedication.

Whittet says, in football, we all film our games and well share that with each other. And there are websites that you can upload the film to, and it will break down the games using analytics. So, were using that at the high school level. We could be looking at a play that is second and eight and it will calculate the probability of what kind of play the other team will do. It depends sometimes on if well have that for regular season games but come playoff time its amazing how much you will watch film and you will have your players watch film as well in preparing for that upcoming game.

Using an advanced technology system to coach minor sports might be a newer model but Whittet says he found it easy to adapt to this method because of the help he had with some of his assistants.

We had three guys that had just recently finished playing CIS football. And they will bring what they learned and teach dinosaurs like us how to structure practices on how to be more efficient, saidWhittet.

Going to clinics and conferences you also learn so much, but it was such a pleasure to have a couple of new young coaches join our staff, and really they teach you and we learn from each other. It's amazing how much people are willing to share.

Getting to teach and coach at the school he went to as a high school student is something Whittet is tremendously proud of and says it was a way to give back to a city that has a vibrant and historic sports scene.

North Bay is such a great sports city, Whittet says.

There are so many good people that are involved in it. The longer Ive been around the more and more I appreciate the people that have come before us that have done so much to start it and build it up.

Going back to my old high school was like a dream come true, he continues. Thats what I had always been inspired to do. Theres a long tradition there because its been around so long and theres been some pretty historic coaches that have come prior and you have some big shoes to fill and, obviously you cant fill them, but there are certain expectations that people hold you accountable to and if youre not doing to well you hear about it pretty quickly.

Of all the different sports Whittet has been a part of he says, I never thought I would coach curling and that was more out of necessity than due to knowledge.

But Whittet says that comes along with the territory of being available as a mentor and as a leader and doing whatever you can to help out your school and your students wherever they may need you to.

It opens up your eyes to a whole different realm. Different athletes and different people and it was awesome. And we got to host the OFSAA Curling back in 2014 which was a wonderful experience, he says.

But the gridiron is where he felt his true calling always was.

I remember watching as a five-year-old. Whether it was playing, just sitting and watching as a fan, or being a part of it in some other way, I just find it the most diverse sport you can have. People from all different walks of life can enjoy it and play it. People with different talents, different abilities and different body types can come together as one unit and finding a way to make all that work is what I truly enjoy.

Between his years as a track coach and his years as a football coach, Whittet understands how vital it is to have a state-of-the-art facility to play and practice on. Thats why one of his fondest moments as a Bear was when they were able to open Cundari Field in 2015.

Whittet says, we were just so fortunate to have the perfect storm I guess, when we were looking to upgrade some of the facilities. There was a group of gentlemen associated with the Scollard Hall Foundation and they had some money and along with the school board we all worked together to create the turf facility, the track and the bleachers that you see today.

To host events and meets and track events, it's outstanding. We welcome all the other high schools to come and train on it, and it is good for our athletics program. I really do believe there has been an uptick in student enrolment because they see this facility and they want to be a part of it and use it, and its been a real win-win for everybody.

And when people like John Whittet come along and dedicate themselves to your school and city in any area, youre going to find a lot of those win-win situations.

If you have a story suggestion for the Rooted series, send Matt an email at matthew.sookram@rci.rogers.com

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John Whittet dedicated to excellence in community coaching - BayToday

‘Worried for our families and all of mankind.’ Coronavirus a concern even for astronauts in space – USA TODAY

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Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley made history by becoming the first NASA astronauts to pilot a private spacecraft to the International Space Station. USA TODAY

WASHINGTON At 260 miles above Earth, it might seemeasy to forget the pandemonium of a coronavirus crisis gripping the globe.

But for three U.S. astronauts Chris Cassidy, Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley circling the planet in the International Space Station, the angst of COVID-19 never really disappears either.

"Were certainly worried for our families and all of mankind," said Cassidy, commander of the orbiting lab. "It is on our mind a lot just like every citizen of the world.

"The three of us (like) most astronauts have the ability to focus on our work and compartmentalize when we need to be sharp and safe and diligent about the task at hand," he said inan interview Tuesday with USA TODAY from the space station. "But when its off duty time were quick to find the latest news from our hometowns, our families and find out whats going on ... and we hope all the best of health for everyone."

In this still image taken from NASA TV, NASA astronauts Bob Behnken (L) and Doug Hurley are strapped in the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule at Kennedy Space Center.(Photo: NASA)

The three have been together for 37 days, ever since Behnken and Hurley made historyby docking theirSpaceX CrewDragon capsule to the ISS on May 31 following a 19-hour flight.

Their 27-foot capsule,launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on May 30 at 3:22 EST, became the first spacecraft to carry humans from U.S. soil to the orbiting lab since NASA ended its Space Shuttle program in 2011 and the first private one carrying humans ever to do so.

A SpaceX Falcon 9, with NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken in the Dragon crew capsule, lifts off from Pad 39-A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Saturday, May 30, 2020. For the first time in nearly a decade, astronauts blasted towards orbit aboard an American rocket from American soil, a first for a private company.(Photo: David J. Phillip, AP)

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For nearly a decade, NASA has relied on Moscow to ferry astronauts to the space station. Hurley praised the Russians for being "incredible" partners but called the resumption of U.S-based flights"far overdue."

"It was a tough proposition to swallow back in 2011 when the last shuttle flight flew and we had no capability from the United States to launch us into space," he said. "Its great to be back in that business again."

Plans for an early to mid-August return which will include the first splashdown of a U.S. crew in 45 years remain a working target butit's too early to pin down a specific date, Behnken told USA TODAY.

Under NASA's Commercial Crew Program, the Demo-2 mission is a milestone aimed at proving SpaceX can send humans safely to space. USA TODAY

More: How Elon Musk took SpaceX from an idea to the cusp of making history

"Looking at the Gulf or off the coast of Florida in August and September, you do need to wait until you have good forecasts before you can plan too far into it, just with hurricanes, thunderstorms and the dynamics that are out there," he said. "Weve got another two weeks or so and then a good plan ought to start coming together because the weather will be better understood."

The crew is scheduled toconduct at least two more space walks to finish work that Cassidy and Benkhen started with earlier space walks to upgrade the batteries providing power to the stations solar arrays.

In between station tasks, Hurley has been in the ISS cupola,takingbreathtaking photos of his home planet and sharing them on social media.

(Photo: SpaceX)

"Personally, its trying to convey to as many people as we can just what we see with our eyes when we look out the window up here and how different it is to view the earth from space then to be standing on the Earth somewhere," he said.

Even with the ISS traveling at five miles per second and orbitingEarth about every 90 minutes, Hurleyhas little trouble recognizing the Rockies,the Himalayasor the turquoise sheen of the Caribbean.

"Every time we fly over the Bahamas, that vivid blue that you see that surrounds those islands is just unbelievable," he said.

For Hurley, the docking is familiar. In 2011, he was on the final space shuttle mission's rendezvous with the ISS, during which his teamleft behind an American flagto be retrieved by the next group of astronauts launched from U.S. soil.

Now, nearly 10 years later, he'll capture the flag he left behind.

Contributing: Emre Kelly, Florida Today

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'Worried for our families and all of mankind.' Coronavirus a concern even for astronauts in space - USA TODAY

Connecting in orbit Retired Columbus engineer works on radio power supply for space station – The Republic

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A local retired engineer is helping amateur radio operators and students connect to the International Space Station.

For Ed Krome of Columbus, engineering has been a lifelong passion.

When he was 21, he built a Meyers Manx dune buggy. In 1963, he got his amateur radio license (though he prefers experimenting to chatting with other ham operators). For many years, he was the engineering manager for Master Power Transmission. In his own words, Krome holds nine patents on mechanical devices and has built everything from micro-electronics to a two-story house.

Now, the retired electrical and mechanical engineer is wrapping up work on something a little more interstellar a power supply for shortwave radio equipment on the International Space Station.

Story continues below gallery

For more than two and a half years, Krome has been a mechanical engineer and designer on a Multi-Voltage Power Supply (MVPS) that is part of an Interoperable Radio System.

On March 6, Krome, along with the rest of the power supply team, was invited to watch the first MVPSs launch into space at Cape Canaveral. The power supply was aboard the SpaceX CRS-20.

It was the clearest night ever, Krome said. And you could see everything. You know, we saw the launch, we saw the first stage cutoff, we saw the separation, we saw the booster come back down and land only about a mile from us. And it was just spectacular.

The power supply is used by an international organization known as Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS).

The organization helps young people learn about STEM and space by connecting astronauts on the International Space Station with students on the ground.

The amateur radio operators on the ground are the go-between between the signals coming down and going to the space station and the students, Krome explained.

Every year, schools can apply to host contact events, where students have about 10 minutes to talk to astronauts on the space station and ask questions. Once a school is chosen, Krome said, there is a contest where third through 10th graders submit questions to ask the astronauts. The top 10 or 12 questions will be selected and sent to the ISS in advance, in case the astronauts need to research the topic.

When the space station comes overhead, and its only visible for 10 or 12 minutes at a time, they make the contact with the space station, Krome said. And then the student who wrote the question gets to get on the microphone and ask his question to the astronaut.

Krome said these contact events often involve not just entire schools listening in, but entire communities. Last year, there were 77 contact events and more than 80,000 people were listening in, which Krome called a typical year.

There havent been any in-person contacts lately with all schools worldwide shut down, but there have been a few experiments using Zoom, he said of the project continuing during the pandemic.

Krome became involved with ARISS more than two and a half years ago.

I was recruited by the project manager (who is an old friend) who said that they needed an experienced mechanical engineer and designer and the project was only a power supply, Krome recalled. That was an understatement.

Krome said that the original mechanical design on the project was done by a professional satellite designer who left after a year and a half of working on the project.

He did the basic design and then handed it off to me and said, Here, complete it and make it work, Krome said. So my work not only included the design, but I built up an automated test arrangement to investigate the temperature and noise requirements. He also bought and assembled mechanical parts in his home before shipping them off to California for final assembly.

Krome said that the MVPS was needed to replace old equipment.

So what this power supply is, it replaces the power supplies for these transceivers, these radios, that have been on the space station, he explained. The power supplies also provide power to television-related experiments as well.

However, this equipment is more than a new power supply; its a major milestone for volunteer equipment on the ISS.

Its the first piece of equipment that has ever gone to the space station that was 100% built and managed by volunteers, Krome said. Anytime that you deal with space, there are a lot of rules and regulations, and everything is safety-related. So the documentation and the testing becomes extreme. So there are companies that actually do that kind of documentation, but you pay them to do that. Well, this one, we didnt pay anybody. We did it all with our group.

Once the power supply was built and Krome had conducted his tests, the electrical designer also had to take the unit to the NASA Johnson Space Center for rigorous testing before it could be sent to the ISS.

The new Multi-Voltage Power Supply is also unique in that it can be used anywhere on the space station.

This was not possible with any equipment for this activity before, as voltages are different on different parts of ISS (the space station), Krome said.

Krome said that hes currently finishing up work on the MVPS project, which includes building cables for a diplexer, and the group working on the project still meets for weekly teleconferences.

He also said that there are three more power supplies that are manifested to launch in the future (one will go to the American section of the ISS, the other two will go to the Russian section) and six units that are designated for training and other uses.

Were still quite involved in this, he said. And the electrical designer whos doing the final assembly. I worked with the fellow in San Diego for two and a half years, every week and sometimes more than that, and Id never met him. So I finally met him at the launch in Canaveral. The electrical designer is Kerry Banke, a retired electrical engineer.

When asked what was the best part of the project was, Krome replied, Its just exciting and interesting. Its new technology, its space-related. Its STEM, you know, its trying to get the next generation, or two generations from now, interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. You know, and in this, the current political environment, where science and mathematics are not stressed, I think that we need to do all that we can to get kids interested in this stuff, because we need good engineers and scientists and mathematicians. Thats what this is all about, is getting kids interested in it.

Where to learn more

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) receives funding from and uses resources of the International Space Station U.S. National Laboratory. ARISS is a member of the Space Station Explorers consortium.

ARISS is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS). In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the International Space Station U.S. National Laboratory and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) topics by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students in classrooms or public forms. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities learn about space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see http://www.ariss.org.

Information on contact events and how to host one can be found at https://www.ariss.org/submit-a-contact-proposal.html.

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Connecting in orbit Retired Columbus engineer works on radio power supply for space station - The Republic

Elon Musk is now worth more than Warren Buffett as Tesla stock continues to break records – CNBC

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Tesla CEO Elon Musk is now the seventh-richest person in the world, surpassing legendary investor Warren Buffett, as Tesla's stock continues to skyrocket.

Musk surpassed Buffett on Friday after Tesla shares hit an all-time high, giving Musk a net worth of about $70.5 billion, roughly $1 billion more than Buffett, according to Bloomberg's calculations.

Tesla shares continued to surge Monday and hit anothernew high. The shares jumped 12% in morning trading and brought the company's market valuation to $325 billion, making it the 10th-largest U.S. stock by market value.

Investors now believe that Tesla could report a fourth straight quarter of GAAP profits when it posts second-quarter results on July 22, meaning it could be considered for inclusion in the S&P 500.

The company's stock is up more than 300% for the year.

-- CNBC's Robert Frankand Pippa Stevens contributed to this report.

Subscribe to CNBC on YouTube.

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Elon Musk is now worth more than Warren Buffett as Tesla stock continues to break records - CNBC

Task force approved to study Confederate flag on Williamson County seal after hours of debate – Tennessean

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The entrance lobby in the Williamson County courthouse features the Williamson County seal on the floor, which includes a Confederate flag.(Photo: Shelley Mays/The Tennessean )

After a three-and-a-half hour debate with multiple amendments introduced, the Williamson County Board of Commissioners voted 18-5 to approve the formation of a nine-member task force to study the Williamson County seal, which has an image of the Confederate flag.

Commissioners voting against the move included Judy Herbert, 3rd District;Bert Chalfant, 7th District; GreggLawrence, 4th District; ErinNations, 6th District;and Barbara Sturgeon, 8th District.

Most commissioners said they received an enormous response from the community about the seal in emails, phone calls andpetitions some against the Confederate flag symbol on the seal and some in favor.

Adopted in 1968 in the era of the Civil Rights Movement and Martin Luther KingJr., the Williamson County seal has drawnmountingcriticism from constituents.

Franklin resident Dustin Koctar, who launched a petition to change the seal,first criticized the presence of a Confederate flag on it at a community vigil in memory of George Floyd in Franklin last month.

Previously: Williamson budget committee approves task force to explore removal of Confederate flag on seal

More: Franklin parent proposes plan to remove Confederate flag from Williamson County seal

More: Some Williamson commissioners would support forming committee to study changing seal

Theresolution, writtenby Williamson County Mayor Rogers Anderson's office, calls for the formation of a nine-member task force comprised of Blackcommunityand business leaders as well as representatives from various community organizations and the county historian.

The task forceis chargedwith discussingthe seal and submitting a recommendation to the county commission in September about whether to change it.

Williamson Inc., the county's chamber of commerce and county economic department, will chair the task force, including organizing meetings and collecting data. A representative from Williamson Inc. will also serve on the task force.

According to the resolution, the nine-member committee would consist of the following:

'Do not be silent': Meet Nashville teens who launched a movement for social change

Several commissioners proposed amendments, including how to direct the task force, whileothers wanted to bypass the task force altogether.

Commissioner Sean Aiello, 11th District,proposed an amendment that would appoint the county historianRick Warwick as chairman of the task force, instead of Williamson Inc. His proposalfailed.

Commissioner David Landrum, 10th District,proposed anamendment for the task forcetoonly study the upper left hand quadrant of the seal containing the Confederate flag, and leave the rest of the seal untouched. His amendment gained the most traction, but still failed11-12.

At one point, Commissioner Gregg Lawrence, 4th District, suggested deferring the discussion.

"Let's wait until things calm down in America so maybe we can be more reasonable," he said, also stating that the seal needs to change."I think it's going to be hard to get a consensus during this time on the seal."

Commissioner Dwight Bubba Jones, 1st District, later made an amendment to eliminate the entire county seal altogether.

"Let's just do away with the seal and remove the controversy," he said.

However, he later withdrew his amendment when Commissioner Chad Story, 4th District, proposed a separate amendmentcalling for theremovalthe Confederate flag on the seal instead of forming atask force gained momentum.

Story argued that he "feared" that the task force might alter other parts of the seal and thus compromise its full historical integrity.

"Let's remove the Confederate flag and take our resolution directly to the Tennessee Historical Commission," Story said.

Some commissioners who previously supported the task forcebegan to shift their perspective as Story presented his argument.

Commissioner Brian Beathard, 11th District, who initially sponsoredthe mayor's task force proposal, shifted his perspective tosupport instead Story's proposal.

"Some constituents have egregiously told me the commission doesn't have the gravitas to make this decision on our own," Beathard said. "Acommittee would have too much to tackle looking at whole seal, if the sensitive part isreally to remove the flag."

Commissioner Keith Hudson, 3rd District, the only Black member of the county commission, initiallysupported thetask force resolution but latervoiced his support ofStory's suggestion to removethe Confederate flag as well, while bypassing the task force.

Hudson also explained his view of the Confederate flag as a symbol.

Hesimply explained that for him and many other people of colorthe Confederate flag is "asymbol of hate."

"It's the same astheswastika for me," he said. "I tell myson to stay away. If it's displayed in a business,they are sending a message they don't want you as a patron."

He said the flag symbolizes different things for different people.

"Is it hate or is it heritage?You don't know so, son, stay away," Hudson said."I remember coming out of Woolworth's, and the Klan marching, and I saw the battle flag and that is mymemory."

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Ultimately, the momentum for Story's amendment fizzled when he removed it from consideration.The commission then voted on the initial resolutionpresented by the mayorandfive commission sponsors Hudson, Morton, Webb, Beathard and Commissioner Betsy Hester, 2nd District.

Other commissioners voiced why they supportthe formation of the task force.

"I am proud to support this proposal, this is a much needed change," Chas Morton, 9th District,said.

"Everything should have a look to be modernized,"Paul Webb, 6th District said."Let's have the discussion."

"We need to discuss this to be an authentic county," said Beth Lothers, 5th District, said.

The county commission will review the recommendations from the task force at its regular monthly commission meeting in September.

Kerri Bartlett covers issues affecting children, families, education and government in Williamson County. She can be contacted atkbartlett@gannett.com, 615-308-8324 or @keb1414 on Twitter.

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Task force approved to study Confederate flag on Williamson County seal after hours of debate - Tennessean

It’s Time To Retire The Offensive Design Of The Mass. Flag And Seal – WBUR

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The overdue discussion about inequities crippling and killing Americans of color shouldnt overlook the discrimination faced by the continents original citizens. Native Americans drown in widespread poverty; until recently, North Dakota tribes labored under longstanding voter suppression, an outrage that just this year, mercifully, has been abandoned. (Architects of the suppression never called it that, basking instead in justifications that would persuade only those who write with crayon.)

Compared to these life-stunting scourges, criticism of the Massachusetts state seal and flag as demeaning to Native Americans admittedly seems like swatting a fly amid a swarm of murder hornets. Yet as the welcome removal of monuments to the Confederacy (and that treasonous regimes flags from NASCAR races) attest, symbols matter as material, micro and not-so-micro aggressions. Theyre mute transmitters that announce societys values.

At least some lawmakers grasp that truth in this Black Lives Matter moment. A state Senate committee gave thumbs up on a bill authorizing study of a redesign of the flag and seal and passed it along to the joint Senate-House Rules Committee.

The seal and the flag bearing it feature a disembodied, sword-wielding arm above a Native American. The horseshoe of the state motto wraps around him in Latin, variously translated as by the sword we seek peace, but peace under liberty or [she] seeks with the sword a quiet peace under liberty.

... symbols matter as material, micro and not-so-micro aggressions. Theyre mute transmitters that announce societys values.

Native American Bay Staters have objected for decades to the design, saying it bespeaks the violent subjugation of their people, beginning with European colonizers and ravaging the arc of Native history through the Trail of Tears, the Plains Wars and Wounded Knee.

That some say the arm in question belongs to Myles Standish doesnt make things better, his documented brutality against Natives having appalled even fellow Pilgrims.

There is a reasonable though to me unconvincing case for keeping the current design. Heraldry experts say the sword isnt referring to conquest of the Natives but to the motto; together, the two of them refer to preserving liberty against the oppressive environment the Pilgrims had fled in England.

Normally, Im all for people educating themselves when their offense is based on misunderstanding. But the seal and flag arent like books or articles, which can be evaluated in the totality of their self-explanation. Visual images are more like headlines, shorn of lengthy context; if theyre not self-explanatory, they dont serve their purpose. Public symbols should be quickly understandable to the public, not just to a gnostic few. A sword brandished over a Native? Given our well-known mistreatment of Indigenous people, what are we who are uninitiated in heraldry supposed to think that means?

The Massachusetts legislation recognizes this. It would create a commission, including tribal members, to study features of the state seal and motto, including those which potentially have been unwittingly harmful to or misunderstood by the citizens of the Commonwealth.

The commission would consider a redesign, ensuring that any final seal and motto faithfully reflect and embody the historic and contemporary commitments of the commonwealth to peace, justice, liberty and equality.

Reforming symbols, wise heads remind us, wont redress more substantive injustices against Native Americans including those in Massachusetts. The states Mashpee Wampanoag tribe is jousting with the Trump Administration, which is trying to remove reservation status that the tribe needs to build a Taunton casino without state licensing approval. If that happens, Boston Globe columnist Joan Vennochi writes, the beneficiaries would be other casino operators, including some with reported connections to President Trump.

A sword brandished over a Native? Given our well-known mistreatment of Indigenous people, what are we who are uninitiated in heraldry supposed to think that means?

Vennochi is right that gambling is not an economic development tool that King Solomon would devise. Shes also right that the government nevertheless offers it to tribes from whom we stole sovereignty and prosperity long ago, and that meddling with that process on behalf of cronies is presidential malfeasance. So Bay State Natives have more on their plate than a new seal and flag.

But more than half a century ago, President Lyndon Johnson summed up our Indigenous people as The Forgotten American. Today, in an era when were asking whether offensive statues and flags belong in the public square, a seal-and-flag redesign could be the beginning of remembrance in Massachusetts.

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It's Time To Retire The Offensive Design Of The Mass. Flag And Seal - WBUR

The Global Automotive Gasket & Seal Market is expected to grow from USD 9657.46 Million in 2019 to USD 12886.61 Million by the end of 2025 at a…

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New York, July 14, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Automotive Gasket & Seal Market Research Report by Product Type, by Vehicle Type - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05913409/?utm_source=GNW

On the basis of Product Type, the Automotive Gasket & Seal Market is studied across Gasket and Seal. The Gasket further studied across Metallic Gasket and Non- Metallic Gasket. The Seal further studied across Lip Seal, Mechanical Seal, O-Ring Seal, and Rotary Seal.

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On the basis of Geography, the Automotive Gasket & Seal Market is studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas region is studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The Asia-Pacific region is studied across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand. The Europe, Middle East & Africa region is studied across France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom.

Company Usability Profiles:The report deeply explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Automotive Gasket & Seal Market including AB SKF, Dana Holding Corporation, Datwyler Holding Inc., Elringklinger AG, Federal-Mogul Holdings Corporation, Flowserve Corporation, Freudenberg Sealing Technologies Gmbh & Co. Kg, Smiths Group PLC, Trelleborg AB, and Victor Gaskets India Limited.

FPNV Positioning Matrix:The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Automotive Gasket & Seal Market on the basis of Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.

Competitive Strategic Window:The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies. The Competitive Strategic Window helps the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. During a forecast period, it defines the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth.

Cumulative Impact of COVID-19:COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, so for and, the long-term effects projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlaying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report is delivering insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecast, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market.

The report provides insights on the following pointers:1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on sulfuric acid offered by the key players2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyzes the markets3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and new product developments

The report answers questions such as:1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Automotive Gasket & Seal Market?2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Automotive Gasket & Seal Market during the forecast period?3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Automotive Gasket & Seal Market?4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Automotive Gasket & Seal Market?5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Automotive Gasket & Seal Market?6. What are the modes and strategic moves considered suitable for entering the Global Automotive Gasket & Seal Market?Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05913409/?utm_source=GNW

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The Global Automotive Gasket & Seal Market is expected to grow from USD 9657.46 Million in 2019 to USD 12886.61 Million by the end of 2025 at a...

Is Working with the Lincoln Project Sleeping with the Enemy? – The New Yorker

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One night in 1984, when Heath Eiden was sixteen, he found himself at the Hotel Meridien in San Francisco, in the campaign suite of Walter Mondale. This was during the Democratic National Convention. Consultants and congressmen milled around, wreathed in cigar smoke. Eiden, then a high-school junior from Minneapolis, was there with Mondales son Ted, as a volunteer. He was next to Mondale when the candidate took a call from Lane Kirkland, the head of the A.F.L.-C.I.O. (You got it, Fritz), and then announced to the room that hed won enough delegates to secure the nomination. Eiden was bewitched. The spirit left the road and jumped up into me, he recalled. Fritz Mondale, the last honest politician: he actually said, Yeah, Im going to raise your taxes.

After Reagan beat Mondale that year in a landslide (Mondale won just one state: Minnesota), Eiden, an early adept with his schools Sony Betacam 1800, got the first on-camera interview with the loser. (It led to his short film, Triumph Over Tragedy: The Humphrey-Mondale Tradition, which is archived at the Minnesota Historical Society.) Eiden had TV-news aspirations, but before long disillusionment over sensationalism and dishonesty in the media soured him on it all. His last-ditch attempt was a documentary, in 2004, of another doomed White House bid, called Dean and Me: Lessons from an American Primary, which failed to change the world or to make him rich.

A couple of weeks ago, Eiden, who now lives in Stowe, Vermont, and works as a video producer, got a call from Stuart Stevens, the political consultant, who also has a house in Stowe. Stevens has advised five Republican Presidential candidates, including GeorgeW. Bush and Mitt Romney, but has recently abandoned the Party, in the belief that it has abandoned him. (His eighth book, to be published next month, is called It Was All a Lie: How the Republican Party Became Donald Trump. Last week, he said, The Party always had a dark side. We thought it was a recessive gene, but it turned out to be the dominant gene. I feel like a sucker.)

Stevens was calling on behalf of the Lincoln Project, the confederation of G.O.P. apostates who, appalled by Trump, had formed a political-action committee to defeat him. The Lincoln Project had been producing sharply negative TV ads about Trump, which have run mostly in Washington, D.C., mainly to needle their subject, but which, because of their sass and their source, almost always go viral on social media.

Stevens wanted Eiden to shoot the Lincoln Projects new spot. This one would feature an emergency-room doctor down the road, in South Burlington, named Dan Barkhuff, a former Navy Seal and a graduate of the Naval Academy and of Harvard Medical School, who had started an organization called Veterans for Responsible Leadership. The occasion was the news that the President had ignored intelligence reports that a Russian military unit had been paying bounties to the Taliban for the killing of American soldiers in Afghanistan.

Eiden was torn. On the one hand, work was scarce during the pandemic, and, of course, he abhorred Trump and had been frustrated by the Democrats failure to hit back. But, as a dyed-in-the-down Minnesota liberal, he had misgivings about working with what he called the dark sidesome of the Republican operatives who, by way of rough tactics, had engineered the demise of so many of his favored candidates through the years. Ultimately, though, the enemy-of-my-enemy principle pertained.

The previous week, hed driven to Minneapolis with his teen-age son, to pay their respects (and shoot some footage) at the memorial for George Floyd. That experience, plus a few days in the suburbs among Covid truthers, and an encounter with a waiter making an I cant breathe joke, had only quickened his revulsion. If it takes working with Republicans to get this fucker out of the White House, fine, he said.

What kind of style do you want? Eiden asked Stevens.

Think Swift Boat, Stevens replied.

I knew exactly what Id found myself in the middle of, Eiden recalled.

Eiden and Barkhuff met up at Stevenss house. The Lincoln Project had sent a script, by a screenwriter of the HBO series Band of Brothers, but Barkhuff ditched it for one of his own. Identifying himself as a pro-life gun-owning combat veteran, he said into the camera, Any Commander-in-Chief with a spine would be stomping the shit out of some Russians right now, diplomatically, economically, or, if necessary, with the sort of asymmetric warfare theyre using to send our kids home in body bags. Mr. Trump, youre either a coward who cant stand up to an ex-K.G.B. goon or youre complicit. Which is it?

Afterward, Eiden went home and uploaded the footage. An editor named Joey, in Denver, put it together overnight. The following afternoon, Stevens noted that the spot, called Betrayed, had been viewed online more than six million times. To what end, time will tell.

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Is Working with the Lincoln Project Sleeping with the Enemy? - The New Yorker

U.S. Atty warns about fake ‘mask exemption’ cards – The Outer Banks Voice

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By Outer Banks Voice on July 8, 2020

(Office of the U.S. Attorney, Eastern District of NC)

The office of U.S. Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. issued a release on July 8 warning citizens that cards and other documents bearing the U.S. Department of Justice seal and claiming that individuals are exempt from mask requirements are fraudulent.

There have been reports of individuals in North Carolina and other parts of the country creating cards or other documents claiming that the bearer of the card is exempt from mask requirements. Some versions of these cards threaten businesses or organizations with fines if they take steps to require patrons to wear masks.

In an effort to make the cards or documents appear legitimate, fraudsters may include the U.S. Department of Justices seal or include other threatening language. The Department of Justice is also aware of efforts by some to sell these fake cards to members of the public.

The public should take note that the Department did not issue these documents, and the Department does not endorse them. Furthermore, the Department has not granted permission for the use of its seal for this purpose, and misusing the Department seal is a federal crime.

During this pandemic, false informationand fake cards like thesedo a grave disservice to us all as we try to understand and follow the public-health measures our governments have ordered, said U.S. Attorney Higdon. The public should be aware that these cards are fake, and rest assured that we will investigate those who are knowingly creating or peddling these fraudulent cards to the unsuspecting public.

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U.S. Atty warns about fake 'mask exemption' cards - The Outer Banks Voice

Airport Baggage Protection Market Size By Types, By Application, By Region, And Forecast 20202027 – Owned

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New Jersey, United States,- The Airport Baggage Protection Market report upholds the future market predictions related to Airport Baggage Protection market size, revenue, production, Consumption, gross margin, and other substantial factors. It also examines the role of the prominent Airport Baggage Protection market players involved in the industry including their corporate overview. While emphasizing the key driving factors for the Airport Baggage Protection market, the report also offers a full study of the future trends and developments of the market.

The recently documented report on the Airport Baggage Protection market is a detailed analysis of this business landscape and contains important details regarding the present market trends, current revenue, market size, industry share, periodic deliverables, alongside the profit anticipation and growth rate registered during the estimated timeframe.

A thorough inference pertaining to the performance of the Airport Baggage Protection market over the forecast period, along with the key factors driving the market growth is enclosed in the report. It also delivers information about the market dynamics and focusses on the challenges encountered by the business vertical while providing a brief about the growth opportunities prevailing in the market over the analysis timeline.

Key highlights of the Airport Baggage Protection market report:

The essence of the regional bifurcation of the business sphere presented in the report:

Top key players of industry are covered in Airport Baggage Protection Market Research Report:

Airport Baggage Protection Market Classification by Types:

Bytype1

Airport Baggage Protection Market Size by End-user Application:

Byapplication1

Additional insights about the competitive landscape of the Airport Baggage Protection market:

Factors defining the competitive landscape included in the report are:

The Airport Baggage Protection market report encompasses a comprehensive analysis of the key facets including market concentration ratio.

The objective of the Airport Baggage Protection Market Report:

Cataloging the competitive terrain of the Airport Baggage Protection market:

Unveiling the geographical penetration of the Airport Baggage Protection market:

The report of the Airport Baggage Protection market is an in-depth analysis of the business vertical projected to record a commendable annual growth rate over the estimated time period. It also comprises of a precise evaluation of the dynamics related to this marketplace. The purpose of the Airport Baggage Protection Market report is to provide important information related to the industry deliverables such as market size, valuation forecast, sales volume, etc.

Major Highlights from Table of contents are listed below for quick lookup into Airport Baggage Protection Market report

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Verified Market Research is a leading Global Research and Consulting firm servicing over 5000+ customers. Verified Market Research provides advanced analytical research solutions while offering information enriched research studies. We offer insight into strategic and growth analyses, Data necessary to achieve corporate goals, and critical revenue decisions.

Our 250 Analysts and SMEs offer a high level of expertise in data collection and governance use industrial techniques to collect and analyze data on more than 15,000 high impact and niche markets. Our analysts are trained to combine modern data collection techniques, superior research methodology, expertise, and years of collective experience to produce informative and accurate research.

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Airport Baggage Protection Market Size By Types, By Application, By Region, And Forecast 20202027 - Owned

Signs That Your Car Engine Could Be Damaged – New Vision

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Once its damaged, your car will not move well on the road, says Kasozi.

A car that has ever been involved in an accident would require to have its engine changed. Photos by Stella Naigino

Once its damaged, your car will not move well on the road, says Kasozi.

MOTORING

The car engine is the heart of the car and a lot goes on in it to enable the car to move from one place to another. Experts say it's important that motorists pay attention to their car engines to ensure proper functionality.

AnnetKasozi a mechanic at Bethel auto garage in Seeta notes that when an engine has issues, their usually warning signs and once these are ignored, the engine suffers more damage.

"Once it's damaged, your car will not move well on the road," says Kasozi.

She also reveals that a car that has ever been involved in an accident would require to have its engine changed.

Low pulling power

Kasozi notes that many times when motorists are driving and notice low pulling power, many rush to think that they don't have enough fuel. On further investigations they realise that their cars have issues with the engine.

"This means that a motorist is experiencing compression loss and this can be fixed by having an engine overhaul, "she says.

Fast engine consumption of oil and fuel

Umar Kasujja a mechanic in Nateete notes that investing in car fuel and oil doesn't come cheaply.

However, if you notice a change in oil and fuel consumption of your car engine, organise with your mechanic to check your engine and if possible have an engine overhaul done for a good fuel and oil consumption.

Abnormal smoke

Moses Kayiira a mechanic at Bakayiira diesel garage notes that many times when an engine needs to be revamped, it produces different kinds of smoke like the blue smoke which signifies oil consumption taking place in the engine.

At this point consider having an engine overhaul done to your car.

Black wetsuit in the exhaust pipe

Kayiira notes that while driving many motorists see black, grey smoke coming from their car exhaust system. This is not normal, it's a sign that oil is burning in the engine.

This reduces the effectiveness of the engine. To stop this from happening, check your engine value seal and piston cylinders but if possible have an engine overhaul for a best driving experience.

Noise coming from the engine

Kasujja notes many times motorist notice noise coming from their car engines but very few pay attention to the noise and this damages the car engine more.

"However, if you notice that your car engine produces some noise, consider having it checked and if the noise persists, have an engine over haul to give your car engine more life, "he says.

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Signs That Your Car Engine Could Be Damaged - New Vision

SICPA Launches CERTUS – Covering the Printing Inks, Coatings and Allied Industries – Ink World Magazine

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SICPA announced the launch of CERTUS, to provide digitally-enabled security for official documents, credentials, and certifications issued by public and private authorities.

The technology is specially designed to bridge the digital and physical worlds as the CERTUS credential can be digital or printed anytime, anywhere with no possibility for tampering.

CERTUS is a document security solution that enables government bodies, educational institutions, licensed professionals, and other document issuers to streamline and secure the issuance of official documents and certificates.

Credentials protected by CERTUS can be quickly and confidently validated by anyone to confirm the issuing authority and the authenticity of valuable credentials like diplomas, health records, business licenses, certificates of origin, certificates of compliance, property records, vehicle registrations, election documents, and financial and tax documents.

CERTUS records and protects key data in a secure QR code signed by a cryptographic seal and protected with proven KSI blockchain technology operational since 2008 and trusted by governments around the world.

Ideal for securing sensitive information, CERTUS does not store any private data centrally and guarantees the integrity of the certificate for life.

Officials use the CERTUS Document Manager through a web app or integrated into their existing systems to easily generate, activate, expire and revoke documents and certificates remotely.

These CERTUS-protected credentials can be provided to the document holder online, via email or SMS, and printed on demand gone are the challenges associated with lost or damaged credentials.

CERTUS Universal Verifier is available for free via web and mobile apps for independent verification.

Users simply scan the QR code and instantly receive confirmation of the date and time of issuance, name of the issuing authority, the validity of the credential (i.e. active, expired, revoked), and authenticity of the underlying claim based on the digital security seals.

In the event of an invalid or expired credential, the verifier is alerted immediately.

Leveraging decades of expertise in enabling trust in physical documents, SICPA is bringing its expertise to protect digital credentials with an easy and cost-effective solution that provides independent, third-party verification of documents, while protecting individual privacy, said Marco Aloe, director of Integrity Solutions at SICPA.

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SICPA Launches CERTUS - Covering the Printing Inks, Coatings and Allied Industries - Ink World Magazine

Biohacking Market- Global Business Growing Strategies, Technological Innovation And Emerging Trends Outlook To 2027 – Owned

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The biohacking market is anticipated to grow in the market by the advancement of new technologies. In addition, with rising demand for these devices is the key application for the growth of the industry. However, there is less awareness about this new device in the market. Furthermore, it has a superior ability to cut and seal and is rising demand in the forecast period. It has increased demand for minimally invasive surgeries that has the opportunity for market growth.

The Insight Partners provides you global research analysis on Biohacking Market and forecast to 2027. The research report provides deep insights into the global market revenue, parent market trends, macro-economic indicators, and governing factors, along with market attractiveness per market segment. The report provides an overview of the growth rate of the Biohacking Market during the forecast period, i.e., 20202027.

>> Weve incorporated a complete guide to create a reliable forecast rather than a wish-cast. Get Sample Copy of Biohacking Market report @ https://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPRE00007599/

**[ Conjointly enclosed report containsa Market Dynamics, Regional and Competitive Analysis, Market Trends And Outlook, Market Share And Size, Opportunities And Customer Analysis, Product Pricing Research and much more.]

The report profiles the key players in the industry, along with a detailed analysis of their individual positions against the global landscape. The study conducts SWOT analysis to evaluate strengths and weaknesses of the key players in the Biohacking Industry. The researcher provides an extensive analysis of the Biohacking Market size, share, trends, overall earnings, gross revenue, and profit margin to accurately draw a forecast and provide expert insights to investors to keep them updated with the trends in the market.

Major key players covered in this report:

Report Offerings:

The study conducts SWOT analysis to evaluate strengths and weaknesses of the key players in the Biohacking Business. Further, the report conducts an intricate examination of drivers and restraints operating in the market. The report also evaluates the trends observed in the parent market, along with the macro-economic indicators, prevailing factors, and market appeal with regard to different segments. The report predicts the influence of different industry aspects on the Biohacking Industry segments and regions.

The research on the Biohacking Market focuses on mining out valuable data on investment pockets, growth opportunities, and major market vendors to help clients understand their competitors methodologies. The research also segments the Biohacking Industry on the basis of end user, product type, application, and demography for the forecast period 20202027. Comprehensive analysis of critical aspects such as impacting factors and competitive landscape are showcased with the help of vital resources, such as charts, tables, and infographics.

This report strategically examines the micro-markets and sheds light on the impact of technology upgrades on the performance of the Biohacking Market.

Biohacking Market Segmented by Region/Country: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Central & South America

Interested in purchasing this Report? Click here @ https://www.theinsightpartners.com/buy/TIPRE00007599/

Thanks for reading this release; you can also customize this report to get select chapters or region-wise coverage with regions such as Asia, North America, and Europe.

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The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We are a specialist in Life Science, Technology, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Automotive and Defense, Food Beverages, Chemical etc.

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Biohacking Market- Global Business Growing Strategies, Technological Innovation And Emerging Trends Outlook To 2027 - Owned

PRESS RELEASE | JULY 14, 2020 Mobile Questionnaire Assistance Launched to Help People Respond Online US Census Bureau staff will begin going into…

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JULY 14, 2020 - More than 3,000 U.S. Census Bureau staff will begin going into communities with the lowest 2020 Census response rates to encourage and assist people with responding on their own to the 2020 Census. This operation, known as the Mobile Questionnaire Assistance (MQA) program, is a separate activity from census takers going door to door to count households that have not yet responded. MQA is part of the Census Bureau's final push to encourage people to complete the 2020 Census before the Nonresponse Followup (NRFU) operation begins nationwide on August 11.

MQA representatives will encourage people to respond to the 2020 Census in open, public places in the lowest responding areas of the nation. These are places where people naturally visit when leaving home to help increase self-response rates. People are encouraged to respond on their own online or by phone. Locations for MQAs will include grocery stores and markets, food banks, laundromats, restaurants and grab-and-go eateries, unemployment offices, back to school drives, places of worship, and libraries.

The local census response representatives will help people complete the census on a 2020 Census tablet or on their own device, while practicing state and local social distancing protocols. All census workers have been trained in social distancing protocols and issued personal protective equipment (PPE), including masks to be worn during MQA support.

About 62% of households across the country have already responded online, by phone or by mail since invitations began arriving in mid-March. The Census Bureau is selecting where to provide MQA based on local response rates and conditions.

If people need help responding in a language other than English, Census Bureau staff can provide phone numbers or assistance responding online in 12 other languages. Staff will also have guides available in 59 languages that walk people through how to respond to the English questionnaire.

All staff will carry an ID badge with their name, photograph, a U.S. Department of Commerce watermark seal, and an expiration date. They will have an official Census Bureau-issued bag and tablet. MQA locations will have banners bearing the 2020 Census logo.

In the interest of public health concerns because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Census Bureau staff will decide on a weekly basis whether MQA activities will take place in a low-response area in coordination with local partners.

For more information, visit 2020census.gov.

MQA will be available from July 13 through September 18.

No news release associated with this announcement. Tip Sheet only.

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PRESS RELEASE | JULY 14, 2020 Mobile Questionnaire Assistance Launched to Help People Respond Online US Census Bureau staff will begin going into...

To Expedite Resilient Solar in the Caribbean, Collaboration is Key – Yahoo News

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A new Rocky Mountain Institute report entails how policymakers and regulators can collaborate to quicken solar photovoltaic installation across the Caribbean--improving communities' livelihoods, enabling cost savings, building resilience and reducing dependency on foreign oil.

NEW YORK, July 14, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ --Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), the Clinton Foundation and the United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Small Island Developing States released a joint report that details how island policymakers and regulators can work together to enhance the resilience of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems across the Caribbean.

The Caribbean and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) continue to face more frequent and intense weather events. When critical infrastructure, like hospitals and schools, are without power, communities suffer deeply. Solar PV systems are a way to increase the resilience of the grid and greatly improve people's access to reliable electricity, but they are useless if they fail.

The report underscores the need to ensure resilient solar PV systems are installed in the most cost-effective and collaborative way. Other key topics include incentivizing the use of the correct equipment and ensuring building codes incorporate resilient solar PV design and construction standards.

"I cannot stress enough the value of stakeholder collaboration. Collaboration ensures that the correct equipment is available, known best practices are enforced, and that systems are built to the highest standards. These components ensure that islands build the most resilient solar projects and ultimately more resilient communities," said Jules Kortenhorst, Chief Executive Officer, RMI.

Key recommendations for collaboration presented in the report include:

Identify opportunities for increased resilience, which require multiparty consideration and action but do not represent current industry standard actions;

Encourage collaboration between installers and module suppliers/distributors to ensure local availability of specified modules;

Collaborate with equipment suppliers to implement incentives so that Category 5 standards are incorporated without putting local suppliers out of business.

"In the Sustainable Development Goals, the world committed to ensuring access to affordable, reliable and modern energy for all. Many Small Island Developing States are emerging as frontrunners in the pursuit of renewable energy, with solar power leading the way. International support in the form of access to finance, investments and technology will be critical to accelerate their transitionand their resilience," said Fekitamoeloa Katoa 'Utoikamanu, High Representative for the UN-OHRLLS.

Story continues

"President Clinton's commitment to the environment continues to drive our work across the Caribbean and island states, finding scalable, replicable solutions for clean energy. We are proud to partner with RMI and UN OHRLLS to share these best practices with the global community. Today, it is even more important to find reliable, cost-effective energy solutions to keep essential services up and running in the face of extreme weather events and the current pandemic," explained Kevin Thurm, chief executive officer, Clinton Foundation.

Solar Under Storm for Policymakers is the third in a series of reports by RMI and partners that focus on installing hurricane-resilient solar systems. The first Solar Under Storm guide discussed the root causes of past solar failures focused on ground-mounted systems. Solar Under Storm Part II explored best practices for equipment and procedures for rooftop systems.

To download the Solar Under Storm for Policymakers report,visit Solar Under Storm for Policymakers: Select Best Practices for Resilient Photovoltaic Systems for Small Island Developing States.

Media Inquiries please contact:

Nick Steel, Media Relations Manager, T: +1 347-574-0887, E: nsteel@rmi.org Conor O'Loughlin, Head of Advocacy, E: conoroloughlin@un.org

Notes to Editors

About Rocky Mountain Institute

Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI)an independent nonprofit founded in 1982transforms global energy use to create a clean, prosperous, and secure low-carbon future. It engages businesses, communities, institutions, and entrepreneurs to accelerate the adoption of market-based solutions that cost-effectively shift from fossil fuels to efficiency and renewables. RMI has offices in Basalt and Boulder, Colorado; New York City; the San Francisco Bay Area; Washington, D.C.; and Beijing.

More information on RMI can be found at http://www.rmi.org or follow us on Twitter @RockyMtnInst.

About the Clinton Foundation

Building on a lifetime of public service, President Clinton established the Clinton Foundation on the simple belief that everyone deserves a chance to succeed, everyone has a responsibility to act, and we all do better when we work together.

For nearly two decades, that belief has energized the work of the Foundation in overcoming complex challenges and improving the lives of people across the United States and around the world. As an operating foundation, we work on issues directly or with strategic partners from the business, government, and nonprofit sectors to create economic opportunity, improve public health, and inspire civic engagement and service.

Our programs are designed to make a real difference today while serving as proven models for tomorrow. The goal of every effort is to use available resources to get better results fasterat the lowest possible cost. We firmly believe that when diverse groups of people bring resources together in the spirit of true cooperation, transformative ideas will emerge to drive life-changing action. Learn more at https://www.clintonfoundation.org/, on Facebook at Facebook.com/ClintonFoundation, and on Twitter @ClintonFdn.

About the United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Land Locked Countries, and Small Island Developing States

The United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS) assists vulnerable countries in areas including economic growth, poverty reduction, and meeting targets laid out in the Sustainable Development Goals.

SOURCE Rocky Mountain Institute

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To Expedite Resilient Solar in the Caribbean, Collaboration is Key - Yahoo News

A Guide to the Caribbean Islands Reopening this Summer – Cond Nast Traveler

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We'd all love to lay out on a beach right nowand no one does beaches better than the Caribbean. But more than toes in the sand, what the Caribbean and its economies need right now are tourist dollars. According to the Inter-American Development Bank, 14 of the 15 most tourism-dependent nations in the world are in the Caribbean, with Aruba, Antigua and Barbuda, and the Bahamas in the top three spots. But as many of these island nations and territories reopen to kick start their economies, health and safety questions for travelers remain: Do you need to take a COVID-19 test before arriving? How are hotels and resorts stepping up cleaning efforts? Will you be able to rent snorkel equipment? And, importantly, do you have to wear a face mask on the beach?

To help you sift from all the information out there, we broke down exactly what to expect if you're heading to the Caribbean in the coming months, for every destination with a reopening plan. Note that not everyone is rushing to welcome travelers back: you won't find the Cayman Islands, Guadeloupe, or Curaao belowas they don't plan on open their borders anytime soon.

Read on for what to know about visiting the Caribbean this summer. And as you plan your visits, remember to keep checking in on local government and tourism board sites, as coronavirus updates come often.

This dual-island country officially reopened its borders, and its international airport on Antigua, on June 1. (As of publishing, American is flying the only route from the U.S., with a daily flight from Miami.) Visitors have two options when it comes to Antigua and Barbuda's mandatory coronavirus testing: you can pay $100 for free test at the airport upon arrival and quarantine in your hotel for about 24 hours until you get the results; or you can quarantine at your hotel or rental for the first 14 days of your stay.

You'll have to wear a mask in all public places, and when interacting with others outside your family circlebut you won't have to wear them at beaches or pools where social distancing is possible, Colin James, head of the country's tourism board told the Telegraph. At beach bars, stools will be removed and tables will be at last six feet apart; and, for now, local restaurants outside of hotels will be restricted to takeout. All hotels and villas are also being certified by the local government to ensure they're following local health and cleaning guidelines. Check back on the government's COVID-19 site for continuing updates.

Aruba is reopening its border in stages. First, on July 1, European, Canadian, and Caribbean tourists (with the exception of the those from the Dominican Republic and Haiti) will be able to visit. Then, on July 10, that will extend to U.S. travelers. No date has been announced for travelers from countries not mentioned above. Like a number of U.S. airlines, Aruba is requiring visitors to both complete a health questionnaire and upload negative COVID-19 PCR test results, within 72 hours of arriving, as part of a new embarkation and disembarkation (ED) card process. (You can also prepay for a COVID-19 test upon arrival at Queen Beatrix International Airport.) Once you've filled out that ED card and received approval to visit, you're set to fly.

As for the experience on the ground, masks are not required, but are requested in situations where social distancing is difficult. Hotels have installed plexiglass barriers at front desks, and many are offering contactless check-in. Outdoor restaurants have been open since late May, restaurants with seating inside (as well as spas) opened June 1, and bars and nightclubs opened on June 10. The island has also instituted a Health & Happiness Codeessentially a certification that shows that a tour operator, water activities coordinator, car rental company, or spa is complying with suggested safety guidelines.

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A Guide to the Caribbean Islands Reopening this Summer - Cond Nast Traveler

A first in the world of Cognac Camus Caribbean Expedition reaches epic flavour conclusion – The Moodie Davitt Report – The Moodie Davitt Report

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Only 4,500 of the Camus Caribbean Expedition Cognac bottles will be released with pre-sales beginning on 1 September

In 10 January 2019, ten sealed casks of Camus Cognac reached Bridgetown on the Caribbean island of Barbados after 45 days of sailing aboard the tall ship De Gallant. But the conclusion of that sea trip was not the end of the story; in fact it marked the beginning of another journey.

After a year and a half of further tropical-climate maturation under the care of Foursquare Owner and Master Distiller Richard Seale the one-of-a-kind Camus Caribbean Expedition Cognac has now concluded its double maturation process.

The one-off experimental series will be limited to 4,500 bottles and released through key selected retailers. 1,000 bottles will be available for sale en primeur from 1 September to 27 September.

As reported, the expedition was launched to explore the possibilities of maturing Cognac in oceanic conditions. The aim was to create an unprecedented taste profile by allowing the Cognac to undergo the process of sea maturation; an 18th century and early 19th-century practice of exporting Cognac around the world by sea.

The De Gallant sailed from the port of La Rochelle, France on 23 November 2018 and reached Bridgetown port on 10 January 2019, making stops in Gijon and Tenerife.

The expedition was launched in partnership with TOWT, an eco-conscious transportation company that specialises in the transport of goods by sailboat. Since its launch, TOWT has saved a total of 185 tonnes of CO2 by travelling 48,000 miles and delivering 400 tonnes of products using wind energy.

Once in Barbados, the Cognac was placed under the care of Foursquare Owner and Master Distiller Richard Seale, great-grandson of Reginald Leon Seale who founded the company in 1926

The ten casks of Camus Cognac travelled from the port of La Rochelle to the port of Bridgetown in Barbados in 45 days aboard the tall ship De Gallant

When the ship set sail, the barrels contained liquids with a 48% ABV. already in their fourth year of ageing. The casks were exposed to multiple environmental factors during the voyage, including the ships constant motion, the oceanic climate influence, and atmospheric pressure within the oak barrels.

The Camus Caribbean Expedition Cognac was kept in traditional Bajan cellars, with the casks stacked on top of each other during the tropical maturation period. After analysing the finished product, Camus discovered that the wood tannins gave greater structure and complexity in tropical climates. This showed a significant aromatic evolution in the liquid due to the higher temperature and humidity in Barbados.

Click on the image to open the April 2019 edition of The Moodie Davitt eZine, which profiled Camus Cognac

The Camus Caribbean Expedition Cognac offers intense fruity aromas of banana and pear, complemented by spicy accents of cocoa bean and nutmeg. Camus described the result as a first in the world of Cognac. The Cognac is presented in a special cylindrical bottle with visuals that represent the two places that book-ended the journey, the ports of La Rochelle in France and Bridgetown in Barbados.

The cognacs experimental ocean and tropical maturation process has created a one-of-a-kind taste profile

Expect to see some of the great spirits of the world, besides the family-owned Cognac, via Camusunique Platinum-plus Partner presence at the Virtual Travel Retail Expo in October.

The Cognac house, now in its fifth generation led by Cyril Camus, will also showcase Chinas famous Kweichow Moutai, the exciting Spirit of China concept, and Lambay Irish whiskey.

The unique 5-day live event, followed by a 30-day showcase, begins on 12 October, just after the conclusion of the Chinese Golden Week holidays. It features a star-studded series of events across the five days, including a Symposium, category workshops and a new consumer research initiative.

Registration is free for buyers, exhibitors and preferred media partners. (Click here to register)

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A first in the world of Cognac Camus Caribbean Expedition reaches epic flavour conclusion - The Moodie Davitt Report - The Moodie Davitt Report

COVID-19 Daily Update 7-12-2020 – 10 AM – West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources

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TheWest Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR)reports as of 10:00 a.m., on July 12, 2020, there have been 206,920 totalconfirmatory laboratory results receivedfor COVID-19, with 4,207 total cases and 96 deaths.

In alignment with updated definitions fromthe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the dashboard includes probablecases which are individuals that have symptoms and either serologic (antibody)or epidemiologic (e.g., a link to a confirmed case) evidence of disease, but noconfirmatory test.

CASESPER COUNTY (Case confirmed by lab test/Probable case):Barbour(19/0), Berkeley (514/19), Boone (34/0), Braxton (5/0), Brooke (25/1), Cabell(192/7), Calhoun (4/0), Clay (12/0), Fayette (79/0), Gilmer (13/0), Grant(19/1), Greenbrier (71/0), Hampshire (42/0), Hancock (39/3), Hardy (46/1),Harrison (120/0), Jackson (148/0), Jefferson (251/5), Kanawha (400/12), Lewis(22/1), Lincoln (9/0), Logan (40/0), Marion (106/3), Marshall (64/1), Mason(24/0), McDowell (9/0), Mercer (62/0), Mineral (65/2), Mingo (30/2), Monongalia(522/14), Monroe (14/1), Morgan (19/1), Nicholas (20/1), Ohio (143/0),Pendleton (15/1), Pleasants (4/1), Pocahontas (36/1), Preston (81/19), Putnam(86/1), Raleigh (75/3), Randolph (186/2), Ritchie (2/0), Roane (12/0), Summers(2/0), Taylor (23/1), Tucker (6/0), Tyler (10/0), Upshur (24/2), Wayne (123/1),Webster (1/0), Wetzel (34/0), Wirt (6/0), Wood (176/9), Wyoming (7/0).

As case surveillance continues at thelocal health department level, it may reveal that those tested in a certaincounty may not be a resident of that county, or even the state as an individualin question may have crossed the state border to be tested.

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

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COVID-19 Daily Update 7-12-2020 - 10 AM - West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources

COVID-19 and Florida’s governor could tank Trump’s renomination festivities – NBC News

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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the deadly pandemic sweeping through his state could help decide whether President Donald Trump gives his acceptance speech next month at the Republican National Convention to a packed crowd or to a lot of empty seats.

Florida is operating under an executive order DeSantis enacted to combat the spread of the coronavirus, which requires all big sports venues to operate at no more than 50 percent capacity, the governor's spokeswoman, Helen Aguirre Ferr, confirmed.

That includes VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, the 15,000-seat venue where Republicans intend to gather Aug. 24-27 to hold the hoopla-packed part of Trump's nomination for a second term.

Lenny Curry, Jacksonville's popular Republican mayor, said recently that the city is keeping close tabs on the crisis to see whether it's safe to have a mass gathering like the GOP convention at the end of August.

However, it's the "governor's call" on whether it's safe to lift the 50 percent mandate, Curry spokeswoman Marjorie Dennis said Monday via email. "Mayor would not have to sign off."

Aguirre Ferr didn't immediately reply when asked whether DeSantis was planning to rescind the order in time for the convention.

Florida shattered its single-day record Sunday with 15,299 new coronavirus cases, eclipsing a daily record set by New York state by 3,000.

Florida has recorded 282,435 cases and 4,380 deaths, according to an NBC News tally. And the two-week death total is up by 90 percent over the previous two weeks. There were 487 deaths June 15-28 and 927 more June 29-July 12.

Jacksonville is getting the convention because Roy Cooper, the Democratic governor of North Carolina, concerned about the spread of COVID-19, wouldn't guarantee Trump a full house at the venue in Charlotte where the renomination was supposed to have been held, saying the event should be scaled back.

In stepped DeSantis, a loyal Trump ally, with the offer to help the president and bring some much-needed tourist dollars to Florida by holding the splashiest parts of Trump's renomination in Jacksonville.

That was before Florida began breaking records for new coronavirus cases and after the governor extended his executive order mandating that large indoor gatherings remain under 50 percent capacity.

Full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak

Now DeSantis faces a difficult decision: possibly anger Trump by keeping the mandate in place or face blowback from Floridians increasingly concerned about the spread of the virus.

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"I wouldn't want to be on that call to Trump," said Mitch Ceasar, Florida's former Democratic Party chairman. "Florida is now the epicenter of the virus both nationally and internationally, and I say that sadly as a Florida resident."

Trump, in a recent interview, said he's willing to be "very flexible."

"We're always looking at different things," Trump said on Gray Television's "Full Court Press with Greta Van Susteren."

"When we signed a few weeks ago, it looked good," the president said. "And now, all of a sudden, it's spiking up a little bit. And that's going to go down. It really depends on the timing. Look, we're very flexible."

Several people who live near the Jacksonville arena have filed a lawsuit to stop the Republican National Committee from holding the convention in their neighborhood, calling it a health risk and noting that a number of people became infected after Trump's rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, because they didn't wear masks or practice social distancing.

Curry left open the possibility of asking the RNC to move the convention out of Jacksonville "if we have "widespread community spread and the ICUs are full and hospitals can't handle it."

Susan McManus, a professor of political science at the University of South Florida, said moving the convention isn't likely, because that would be "hitting big Republican donors twice in a negative fashion."

While the concerns that the convention could become a disease incubator are very real, Florida has already lost billions of dollars because of the pandemic, she said. DeSantis has to come up with a way to keep the event in Florida while ensuring that people are safe.

"I think if Trump's people are pragmatic, and that's a big if, they have to be aware of the position the governor is in," she said. "This is the season where the tourists come in and spend money, and the state's budget has already suffered as a result of the pandemic. Florida is really in a bad place."

So the triumphant multiday extravaganza that Team Trump envisioned might have to be scaled back, featuring social distancing and mask-wearing, McManus said.

DeSantis and Trump "both have strong personalities," McManus said. "I still think there's going to have to be some give and take to make this work. An all-or-nothing solution doesn't benefit either of them."

The president wore a mask in a public setting Saturday for the first time since the crisis began. Before that, he had resisted even as other Republicans had begun wearing them.

Trump still hopes to pump up the pageantry and deliver an acceptance speech before an adoring crowd at a venue that has played host to soldout concerts by performers like Rihanna, Garth Brooks, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and others, The Associated Press reported.

But the script of the convention is already different from those of previous galas. Key events like the roll call of states to renominate the president a highlight of any convention will be conducted by proxy votes in Charlotte. And a half-dozen prominent Republican senators, at least two of whom expressed concerns about COVID-19, have already said they aren't going to the convention.

The Republican National Committee didn't respond to questions about how the arena would be retrofitted to allow for social distancing.

There has also been a proposal to move the convention to an outdoor venue, like TIAA Bank Stadium, to minimize the risk of transmission.

"This seems very unlikely because of the heat and humidity and high chance of thunderstorms in north Florida in the summer," said Aubrey Jewett, an associate professor of political science at the University of Central Florida. "In addition, while an outdoor venue is certainly safer in terms of the potential for transmitting the virus, it would probably greatly reduce the fever pitch of the event compared to the acoustics of an indoor venue."

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And forget about a totally virtual convention.

"President Trump seems to have very little use for the idea of a totally online convention, and it would provide very little in the way of exciting the base," Jewett said.

RNC spokesman Mike Reed told the AP that the party is keeping all its options open, for now.

"The convention is still a month and a half away, so there is time to adjust and make the most appropriate decisions regarding venue options and an array of health precautions that will allow us to have a safe and exciting event for all," Reed said. "We will continue to coordinate with local leadership in Jacksonville and in Florida in the weeks ahead."

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COVID-19 and Florida's governor could tank Trump's renomination festivities - NBC News

I Dont Want to Spread Covid-19. Can I Sit Out the Protests? – The New York Times

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In normal times, I would feel an obligation to take part in the recent protests against police brutality. Im worried, however, that these gatherings could lead to a coronavirus outbreak. Black Americans are suffering from Covid-19 at a disproportionately high rate I dont want to endanger the very lives that this movement is seeking to protect. I have done what I can to speak out in other ways, from signing petitions to making donations and even making a Black Lives Matter sign and carrying it for a solo march around my neighborhood (which definitely attracted a lot of laughter and scorn). I feel bad for not getting out there and standing up for whats right. Is it ethical to support these protests only from a distance? Name Withheld

How do you balance political progress and public health? Many philosophers would say theres no easy moral arithmetic that would allow you to compare the two concerns. In 1965, when John Lewis, the young chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, helped lead a march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala., he did not consult first with his physician. Nor did he or the other protesters heed the advice of Maj. John Cloud of the Alabama state troopers, who warned them through a bullhorn that it would be detrimental to your safety to continue this march. The troopers then made sure that it would be freely swinging whips and clubs. Among the injured protesters was Lewis, whose skull was fractured. The spectacle of peaceful marchers menaced by state violence is, of course, what made the protest so powerful and effectual.

Public-health issues take on another dimension in the pandemic; to catch the virus is to gain the capacity to spread the virus. Responsible protesters this summer have worn masks and tried to maintain some distance from one another. But public safety is jeopardized when law-enforcement officials use tear gas and other irritants that cause respiratory problems, leading people to cough or to remove their masks. It is jeopardized when riot police engage in kettling, boxing protesters into confined spaces and cutting off exits.

So far, it appears that the public-health effects have been more modest than some experts feared. Massachusetts offered additional free coronavirus testing in mid-June to anyone who had recently attended a large gathering, and the results were said to be within the range of statewide numbers. New York City health officials say that they havent yet seen an uptick. It no doubt mattered that the rallies were outdoors; it may have helped that the protesters were typically moving. Luck may have played a role, too. We cant know if the story will be the same with other large protests, especially if a false sense of safety leads to less caution. Its entirely possible that some people who wouldnt otherwise have been infected will become infected and infect others; its possible that some will die.

But not protesting also has significant costs. Our country seems to be on the cusp of necessary reforms, not just in policing but in other areas where racial injustice is pervasive, and careful analysis by social scientists tells us that protests of the right sort can spur political change. We shouldnt assume that this summers political energy can be recaptured when vaccines become available. Many people believe that, at least for this generation, it is now or never.

You wonder, reasonably enough, whether it will be worth the risks. Your own contribution, by itself, is unlikely to make a significant difference either to the spread of Covid-19 or to the process of reform. But if your individual impact was all that mattered, you wouldnt do anything much in politics, including voting, where one vote rarely shifts the outcome. The right question is not: What contribution am I making? The right question is: Am I taking part in a process thats making a positive contribution over all?

Leave aside the fact that the possible gains and losses are extremely hard to model. Even if we knew the net long-term epidemiological effects of participation, on the one hand, and the net long-term effects on health of better policies, on the other, we wouldnt have captured everything important. Had no one ever paid costs in health and mortality for political change, we might still be living with slavery or Jim Crow.

The calculus is complicated in this case by the fact that the health costs of protests may end up being borne, in part, by people who didnt choose to participate who didnt choose, as protesters often have, to take an individual risk of serious injury or death for a chance at a significant advance in justice. Its further complicated by the fact that theres no bureau de change that tells you how much public health to trade for how much political equality. Rational people can disagree about the assessments they reach.

And a final point different people are going to be differently situated here. If youre going home to tend to someone in the class of the most vulnerable, you would have an individual reason to stay away in order to meet your responsibilities to that person. Absent such considerations, if you think large-scale protests are important, you can reasonably take part in them, observing all the necessary precautions and urging others to do the same.

I work for a fast-growing health care company. Recently I referred a friend of mine for an open position, and she was offered the job. After she accepted the offer, my friend told me she intends to keep her current job while also working for my company. (Because both firms allow for remote work, she feels that shell be able to balance time for each.) This arrangement of two full-time positions is clearly against company policy, which requires, among other things, disclosure and approval of all other employment. My friend intends to keep her plans a secret from both her employers. I have advised her against this decision, but she remains undeterred. Im worried about the potential fallout for my friend but also the potential that my professional reputation could be tarnished if her deception comes to light. Should I warn my employer? Name Withheld

In violating the terms of her employment, this person is taking advantage of a company that trusts employees to work unsupervised at home, in a way thats unfair to others who dont abuse the trust. But shes also letting you down: You referred her and, in some sense, vouched for her, in the expectation that she would devote her full-time attentions to her new position. No decent friend would do what shes doing. There are many ways that her deception could come to light: People from one company can talk to those at another, and company directories can increasingly be found online, anyway.

If the details were otherwise, we could discuss the tension between what you owe your employers and what you owe your friend. But given that shes recklessly forfeited the trust that friendship is based on, youd clearly be within your rights to alert your employers. Because the consequences of your doing that could be severe, though, you should offer her the choice between voluntarily ending her double-dipping and your ending it for her.

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I Dont Want to Spread Covid-19. Can I Sit Out the Protests? - The New York Times