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A Spiritual Walk: Creating a new vision for our world is how we rise – Dearborn Press and Guide

Posted on March 31, 2020 by Danzig

Our country has encountered a new virus for which we have no natural immunity. Because it has spread around the world, we call it a pandemic, and we must take steps to stop its spread. The temporary interruption of our lives has created extra concern for people.

Take time to breathe slow, calming breaths. Lets take a spiritual walk into the consciousness of this experience together. Awareness is the first key. We are now aware of the virus; from this space of awareness, take time to pray and meditate on the world you want to see when this is all over.

As you listen to media reports, bless them for doing their job and reporting so we have awareness. Hear the facts and recommendations, but also look for the good in each report. Note the number of survivors. Look for new medicines and techniques, look for people working together, sharing ideas and putting systems into place that are working. Keep your eye out for God in action by looking for people who are helping the homeless, those packing free lunches for kids who are missing school lunches, administrators and teachers supporting their students online, and people reaching out to others for safety or connection to the outside world.

This is a time of uncertainty, but soon it will be over.

Its no mistake that this is happening during the Easter season. During this time, Jesus showed us the way. He knew life was changing and He was the change! Right now, WE are the change!

As spiritual beings having a human experience, we are here at this time to be the change the world needs. What that change is we do not have to know or understand. The best we can do is take our thinking mind, our doing mind, and give it rest, time to step aside. This is our 40 days of consciousness living. Let God work through your consciousness as you cross out worries and free up space. Free up from a full day of work, from running here and there, from the need to have this or that. We have been brought to the space of what is most important to us for a reason.

This is our time and we are the ones to let go and let God work as we free up space to let our imaginations wander through all the good we possibly can. Lets take time daily to step out of the way and let God our Higher Power and the energy that organized and created all there is work!

Resist temptation to tell God what has to be done. God does not need our direction. Instead, take time to read materials that strengthen your own connection with your God source.

During our prayer and meditation time, we must surrender our thoughts of what we see in the world and leave our minds open to expansion. We want to be open to what can be better than the life we had or have now.

Its like having a blank, white dry-erase board. Nothing on it. No hidden agendas or ideas that are going to make our lives better.

Next, using our minds eye, we want to picture our family, our community, states, country and our entire world lifted into wellness. In our minds, we must see people smiling and happy.

Release any energy or thoughts of separation. In God mind, there is no separation, we are never separated from God. See and feel in your heart that all people everywhere in the world are filled with joy as they once again connect with their friends and communities, and life is back to normal.

Remember, we can change our world by changing what we see. We do this through visualizing a world we want to live in. Our new world is created through our manifesting.

Question check in with yourself right now, is your faith stronger than your fear? The Bible has plenty of stories about change happening where God is involved. Think of Noah and the ark. Noah had no answers, but his faith was strong and he created a path for God to move through and make the necessary changes.

Now its our turn, and our responsibility to be the change. When we lift our consciousness from human actions and let go of worldly things and think of more spiritual and positive things, we lift our world. With that lift, we ALL rise, our crooked paths are made straight. We will find systems and advancements for future pandemics, a better way of connecting with those around the globe and living the truth of spirit: that we are all one.

I affirm wellness for you and your family, seeing you all happy and filled with life!

Linda La Croix is the unity director and prayer chaplain at Unity of Lake Orion. Find positive and uplifting posts on her Facebook page, A Spiritual Walk, or at aspiritualwalk.com.

A Spiritual Walk: Creating a new vision for our world is how we rise - Dearborn Press and Guide

Spirituality and social distancing: Amsterdam church offers drive-up prayer – The Daily Gazette

Posted on March 31, 2020 by Danzig

CAPITAL REGION -- In a time of crisis and uncertainty, the Rev. Judy Humphrey-Fox knows that people cling to their faith more than ever.

To express that, connection is vital. Its not easy to create that when government mandates require people maintain at least six feet of distance between each other as social distancing is implemented to attempt to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. But Humphrey-Fox, pastor at Amsterdams United Methodist Church, found a way.

Every night from 6 to 7 p.m., Humphrey-Fox and Perry Read, the churchs lay leader, stand at the end of the church driveway on Golf Course Road with signs indicating that anyone can pull up, remain in their car, maintain a safe distance and be blessed and prayed for.

If she cant bring people into her church, Humphrey-Fox is more than happy to bring the church to the people even if its drive-through style, one at a time.

Christians have always had to be flexible in how we do ministry, according to the time and the place, Humphrey-Fox said. So, were doing that now as well. The people that have pulled up for prayer so far have all expressed a similar need to connect with somebody, Humphrey-Fox said.

Even if youre standing at a distance, she said, youre a person who hears their personal needs and prays for them. Religious services across the state have been canceled as part of a wide swath of social distancing measures.

On Wednesday afternoon, Albany County issued a press release stating the countys Department of Health is seeking to contact anyone who was present at the Victory Bible Church at 21 Hackett Blvd. in Albany from 12:30-2 p.m. on March 14 and asking any of those who were present at that time to remain in their homes under precautionary quarantine until March 29.

These are uncertain times that could shake faith, but religious leaders from throughout the Capital Region have seen a rather different effect.

People are understanding. What Im seeing in people is the best of their humanity, said Rabbi Matt Cutler of Schenectadys Congregation Gates of Heaven. Theyre gracious. Theyre grateful. They understand the circumstances, that these arent haphazard.

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Places of worship throughout the area have adapted to serve those in need of their spiritual service and guidance.

Amsterdams United Methodist Church isnt the only place offering a drive-up option. Each day from 3 to 4 p.m. at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Schenectady, Father Matthew Frisoni sets up in the rectory garage of the Albany Street church and parishioners can drive up and remain in their car at a safe distance as Frisoni takes their confession.

The changes range from lo-fi to high-tech, as many houses of worship have now opted to offer online streaming for their services.

Mary DeTurris Poust, communicatons director for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, said in an email that traffic at the dioceses website is up 1,750% in the past week, with the highest concentration going to links for televised mass and for coronavirus resources.

Bishop Edward Scharfenberger will celebrate his first mass on Facebook Live this Sunday at 9:15 a.m.

I am so amazed and inspired by what Im seeing happening out in our parishes. Even those that have never attempted live-streaming or Facebook Live, are doing whatever they can to reach out to their parishioners even if its simply a cell phone on a tripod for video purposes, DeTurris Poust said. I think its because they know their parishioners are desperately hungry for spiritual connection during this really critical and chaotic time.

At the United Methodist Church, Humphrey-Fox found a middle ground. This past Sundays morning service was offered via Facebook Live, but Humphrey-Fox also knew there were many members of her congregation who dont do the internet. They dont do Facebook. If all youre offering for a Sunday service is, come and join us online, that doesnt meet those people. Humphrey-Foxs solution was, once again, to bring the church outside. The service was conducted in the churchs spacious back parking lot, with about a dozen cars pulling in.

A few people got out of their cars and maintained safe distance from each other, though most remained in their cars and listened as Humphrey-Fox conducted the service on a chilly first morning of spring.

We have a loudspeaker, and we have a big parking lot, Humphrey-Fox said. It was 25 degrees and sunny, and I never expected myself to be doing something like that, standing out there in the cold.

Online options are sprouting up everywhere.

Mohamed Rabie, the imam at Halfmoons Al-Arqam Center the only mosque in Saratoga County said his mosque is now offering some services via Skype and using YouTube and other social media platforms.

I wouldnt say its as effective as being there face-to-face communication is always the best but thats the best we can do for now, Rabie said.

At Congregation Gates of Heaven, Cutler said the synagogue has moved everything it can to online platforms.

As a liberal, Reform Jewish temple, Congregation Gates of Heaven is permitted to live-stream its services, and Cutler said attendance has increased tenfold for recent Sabbath services.

The synagogue has also utilized platforms like Zoom teleconferencing to conduct activities including Torah study, spiritual meditation exercises and even religious school for 150 young students. The congregation will also host an upcoming guest speaker via Zoom.

It causes us to really hunker down and draw on inner strength and technology to do things that are essential for peoples spiritual well-being, Cutler said.

Utilizing new technology is just one option.

Religious leaders throughout the region are taking extra care to reach out to their congregations especially older members.

Sort of the normal pastoral stuff, Humphrey-Fox said, but [we want] to do it more often now. Theres also a desire to provide more than just spiritual help.

As he spent Tuesday afternoon praying with those who came to pick up food at Amsterdams AMEN Place Soup Kitchen, Pastor Philip Bishop of the Freedom Life Baptist Church said that members of his congregation were reaching out to others who might not be able to leave their homes and making trips to the store for them.

Rabie said that there are members of the community at the Al-Arqam Center who are immigrants without American citizenship that cant get government assistance if their job situations are impacted during the coronavirus-induced economic slowdown. Were trying to build a list and see how we can help from our charity money, to see if we can help those families, Rabie said.

Its all about maintaining connection, however they can.

God said that, They that worship Him must worship him in spirit and in truth, Bishop said. It doesnt have to be in a building.

People need to be reminded that whatever is going on around us, God still loves us, God is still with us, Humphrey-Fox said. We can still turn to God. We dont have to be afraid in these circumstances, and we are never distanced from God if we would be open to experiencing God.

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Spirituality and social distancing: Amsterdam church offers drive-up prayer - The Daily Gazette

Blood Drives and Online Religious Services: Spirituality in the Time of COVID-19 – WYSO

Posted on March 31, 2020 by Danzig

The Coronavirus is changing the way Ohioans celebrate their spirituality. Houses of worship are moving their services online and finding new ways to serve their followers.

Emmanuel Catholic Church in downtown Dayton has put the Stations of the Cross online, in a 35-minute video.

In Oakwood, Rabbi Joshua Ginsberg at Beth Abraham Synagogue posted his weekly Dvar Torah on SoundCloud.

The Hindu Temple in Beavercreek is closed to worshippers right now, but priests at the temple have been live streaming prayers.

While most places of worship arent having the large gatherings they usually do, life and death go on. For now, most funerals are being kept small. Just immediate family members and a few close friends.

Despite the challenges, people of all faiths are finding ways to connect with their communities.

Father Tim Fahey at Saint Charles Borromeo in Kettering says volunteers are contacting anyone they think might need help.

Were trying to push that as a primary ministry for a lot of our parishioners at this point because we know so many people are feeling so alone and anxious about the whole thing, Fahey says.

This weekend, St. Charles wont be holding a mass thats open to the public, but they will be hosting a blood drive on Saturday morning at 9AM.

Right now, blood in the Miami Valley is in short supply, and blood donors are exempt from the Health Departments Stay at Home order.

Its still on, Fahey says. Theyll be pulling a trailer up to the parking lots and running the whole blood program from there.

In addition to St. Charles, Fairhaven Church and St. Francis in Centerville will also be hosting blood drives.

A statement about blood donors being exempt from the Stay at Home order and a list this weeks Community Blood Center Events can be found on their website.

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Blood Drives and Online Religious Services: Spirituality in the Time of COVID-19 - WYSO

Epistles Of The EndTime, Part 3: Spiritual Sluggishness – Modern Ghana

Posted on March 31, 2020 by Danzig

The bible clearly told us that one of the signs of the end of times will be spiritual sluggishness where people care less about their spirituality whiles the fleshly mundane things becomes a priority. Timothy and the account of Matthew puts it this way: the love of many (not few) will grow cold and people will become lovers of themselves rather than lovers of God. My assignment is to remind us of the indicators of these days so that we will not become victims of it unaware. The signs are already clear as it were, the best we can do is to help mitigate the risk of losing God at the expense of maintaining or jobs. The following as prescribed in 2nd Timothy 3:1-2 will be some indicators to our spiritual sluggishness as the son of man tarries:

People will be Lovers of themselves, LOVERS OF MONEY, Disobedient to their Parent, Ungrateful, Without Self-control, Unforgiving and LOVERS OF PLEASURES RATHER THAN LOVERS OF GOD.

During the era of this global catastrophic pandemic, you may have seen one or two of these traits in the lives of people or in your own life as a pastor, a student, a politician, a trader or a business man. If we are in seasons like this and people can still inflate prices by 300% just to make abnormal profit, that's not just character flaws, no, it is the character that loves money than fellow humans. That is a manifestation of the wickedness in the heart of man awaiting expression. You slept early and your alarm sounded for you to pray and you didn't only put it off, you took the battery out and covered yourself with a bigger blanket so you can feel good, and you deny a generation of the intercession that could have been done out of love for the body of Christ.

Your phone got missing and you bought a new one. You failed an exam, you quickly re-registered and took the papers again. Your partner divorced you and you found a way to remarry. You lost your job and then got a new one, your church was attacked and you quickly built another church but YOUR PRAYER LIFE IS DYING FOR YEARS NOW AND IT DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING TO YOU. YOUR DON'T HAVE A BIBLE, YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY YOU SHOULD FAST AND FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT SELDOMELY MANIFEST IN YOUR LIFE, and it is of no concern to you yet these are the matters of the spirit that are superior to this realm. Check it, it could be the love of pleasure more than love for God.

The Bible has told us that the things that are seen were not made of the things that do appear, meaning the realm of the spirit birthed this physical realm. So, if there is any attention to give to your destiny, it should be an investment into your spiritual life. The boast that you know God should be superior to your boast in the crowd that gathers for your Sunday service. The boast that you know God should be superior to the boast of property acquisition. The boast that you know God should be superior to the boast of amassing academic accolades. This is because a time is coming where everything will standstill and fail but the only source to draw strength will be your relationship with your maker.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus! Grant me encounters and conviction stronger than what I know. I avail myself for your teachings and Lordship. I receive and accept you as my Lord and Personal Savior.Thank you.

R. Duafah[emailprotected]

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Epistles Of The EndTime, Part 3: Spiritual Sluggishness - Modern Ghana

Album Review: IGORRR Spirituality and Distortion – Metal Injection.net

Posted on March 31, 2020 by Danzig

Back in 2017, Savage Sinusoid was without a doubt a landmark album, surprising the metal community and boasting the next level of experimental heavy music. While French multi-instrumentalist mastermind behind the project Gautier Serre had previously put out a couple releases, it was that 2017 LP put out through Metal Blade Records that placed Igorrr's name on the map.

Igorrr boldly challenged the fundamentals of both experimental music and metal and indisputably broke down boundaries (heck, we gave Savage Sinusoid a perfect score review for such reasons). With that being said, his music may be unique, but not exactly the easiest listen. Warped and abrasive electronics combatting blood-curdling, abstract screams was eye-opening on the innovation level, yet sometimes comparable to staring into the sun on one's eardrums. I absolutely applaud the offbeat approach that Igorrr displayed on Savage Sinusoid and was intrigued to discover if such abrasiveness would continue or would this radical musical project take a different turn on the follow-up.

Cutting to the chase, Spirituality and Distortion shows Igorrr exploring new stylistic and songwriting realms, yet also staying true to his unorthodox and sometimes jarring identity. The mesmerizing hodge-podge within this latest record is conjured up all through the help of some of Gautier's friends including violinist Timba Harris, bassist Mike Leon, pianist Matt Lebofsky, Oud player Mehdi Haddab, accordion player Pierre Mussi, Kanoun player Fotini Kokkala, and harpsichordist Benjamin Bardiaux as well as the prominent vocalists Laure Le Prunenec and Laurent Lunoir, known for their operatic and unclean deliveries respectively.

Considering that Savage Sinusoid was his claim to fame release, this review will focus on what new routesthat Igorrr has confidently sauntered down and alternatively, which aspects still remain true to his previous material. The first notable aspect on this LP was the increase in heaviness. In the past, Igorrrs heaviness was derived from rabid vocalizations and distorted electronics on top of neck-break speed riffing and blast beats. While these elements carry over to this new record, the inclusion of more straightforward guitar riffs become the driving force behind what makes these tracks so hard-hitting. The heaviest and most guitar-driven moments can be found in "Nervous Waltz," "Himalaya Massive Ritual," and the latter half of "Overweight Poesy." But I'd be daft if I didn't point out "Parpaing," both heavy musically and vocally with Cannibal Corpse's George 'Corpsegrinder' Fisher on the mic.

Secondly, Spirituality and Distortion is all in all more ambitious regarding musical diversity. Granted, Igorrr had already established a reputation for fusing a variety of styles such as death/black metal, baroque, folk, and electronica, but this new material expands the reach further. The most notable musical path explored would be the Eastern musicalities showcased on a multitude of tracks like "Camel Dancefloor," "Downgrade Desert," and "Himalaya Massive Ritual." As you can tell, the tracks titles on this album are humorously accurate to what the song sounds like. Other examples of this being the overly caffeinated ballroom score "Nervous Waltz," the zany and hefty "Paranoid Bulldozer Italiano," or the aforementioned "Himalaya Massive Ritual," which is both immense in its seven-minute length and sonic breadth.

Although, the Eastern stylization was mostly a new frontier for Igorrr, we still find tracks in more familiar territory. "Very Noise" is still an envelope-pushing composition holding abrasive breakbeat electronica alike Aphex Twin, but still within the usual Igorrr wheelhouse. Similarly, "Lost in Introspection" follows a more trip hop formula through the first half, with a piano-driven melody and beat in the vein of Moby or RJD2, before launching back into Igorrrs signature metallic baroque fusion.

On the topic of baroque fusion, head to "Hollow Tree," "Paranoid Bulldozer Italiano," "Nervous Waltz," "Overweight Poesy," "Barocco Satani," and to an extent "Polyphonic Rust" for your fix of Igorrr's signature style. Furthermore, "Musette Maximum" comes off as a sequel to the accordian-driven "Cheval" with funky zydeco closer "Kung-Fu Chvre" finishing off the accordion trilogy. You could argue that these songs would easily have snugly fit into the explosive and experimental atmosphere of Savage Sinusoid, however I feel that songwriting-wise, these compositions are far more refined.

Of all the fourteen tracks within this album, a broad spectrum of styles is expressed ranging from metal, electronic, baroque, and European and Eastern regional music. Despite this variety, the entire bundle is not only a dynamic and cohesive package, Igorrr also expertly balances the absurdity of avant garde melodies and rhythms with a sense of solid song-writing.I found immense relief in that the compositions on Spirituality and Distortion focused less on the goal of pushing the envelope sonically and structurally, but instead shining a light on the diverse stylistic variety as well as actually including hooks.

Overall, Spirituality and Distortion rounds up to be the ideal follow-up to Savage Sinusoid. For those new to Igorrr, the unorthodox nature may be surprising, but with an open mind, Spirituality and Distortion is definitely his easiest pill to swallow and furthermore a perfect beginners gateway to experimental metal and music. And lastly, for those already fans of Igorrr's music, this record will be a delight as this album showcases him successfully expanding his musical palette while also strengthening his compositional abilities. In the end, I found myself constantly drawn back to listen to the full album in entirety as nearly every moment is a highlight.

9.5/10

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Album Review: IGORRR Spirituality and Distortion - Metal Injection.net

How Spirituality and Jewish Values Informed Lucas Asher’s Business Success – The Jewish Voice

Posted on March 31, 2020 by Danzig

By Jewish Voice Editor

When Lucas Asher was a teenager, he struggled with homelessness. But through Judaisms teachings, he found direction and clarity. This perspective allowed him to recognize the agents of history, and the foresight to invest in their vehicles, including Elon Musks SpaceX.

More importantly, Asher discovered his lifes purpose: To become a catalyst for change through technology, like his hero David Geffen did for music.

Asher makes his base between LA, NY and Miami. He currently has Invested in 36 of the tech industrys most innovative companies including companies like, Virgin Hyperloop One, Planet, Pinterest, Spotify, Flexport, Robinhood, Betterment, Space X, Palantir, Adaptive Biotech and many more. As if he isnt busy enough, he serves as CEO of 3 fast growing companies like his music streaming service Revo.

Asher is a talented musician himself having worked with hip hop legends RZA from The Wu Tang Clan his track Revolutionary summons imagery of the iconic Theodore Hertzel as he crones about changing longstanding systems. Its message has resonated on a mainstream level, with the music video receiving over 2 million views on YouTube. His current single with Kanye West producer Emile Haynie Satisfy me is approaching 2 million streams on Spotify.

Guiding his business success is Judaisms teachings that Hashem created the universe, and that we have a limited amount of time on earth to accomplish everything. We recently caught up with Asher to discuss how spirituality has inspired him to change the world.

How did your upbringing in the Jewish community inform your entrepreneurial mission?

I came from a very poor upbringing, so I always had it in my heart to contribute to Jewish causes. Specifically, I want to support Israel and provide mentors for my community. And I just wasnt in a position to do that growing up, especially given the poor environment I came from. So entrepreneurship was essentially my way out. Like a lot of Jews, it was pretty much the only option I had. So I think thats how it contributed to my entrepreneurial mission. And then from there, I went on and invested in over 36 disruptive tech companies. So its been quite a wild ride to say the least.

Did you have any Rabbis or Jewish business leaders growing up that you really looked up to and helped create a blueprint for you?

Absolutely, Rabbi Chaim Shanowitz was a big influence for me as a teacher. Theres been a lot of Rabbis though. I met him when I was really young, and I went into a Jewish bookstore to buy one of my co founders a star of David. When I went to school, I didnt look very affluent. And he comes right up to me and talks to me as if I was a prince. And it really stood out to me, and how impartial he was as a rabbi. And he asked if he could mentor me. Ever since then hes been giving me wise council.

Did any Jewish business leaders serve as a mentor to you when you were first starting your career in business?

Yeah Haim Saban was a big one. I met Haim Saban at a Milken conference here in LA, and he has been a big role model and mentor. Doctor Richard Erlich has been like a father to me. Hes the top neurologist at UCLA hospital and is an incredible mentor of mine.

What business endeavor of yours right now is providing you the most spiritual fulfillment that you really feel good about?

My technology businesses. Because I feel like technology just like Torah brings us together. I have over a dozen tech companies that I serve on as either a board member, or co founder and those are the most fulfilling for me.

What do you like most about them?

They are the catalyst for change. For example, I have a social media business that connects people through music. Its called revo.fm. King David played the harp and my modern day harp is this social media music sharing app, its very similar. Music is a great connector of people. And so thats something very special for me. I have an Artificial Intelligence business that helps businesses make better decisions. And right now businesses are struggling because of the Covid-19 crisis. Its sweeping the world. So helping small businesses is very important to me as well. So, I find technology to be the catalyst for change.

What do you see as Judaisms role with so much technological upheaval and advancement happening?

Technological upheaval does nothing to Hashems plan, and Hashems word. And I feel that all the technological upheaval in the world is not greater than Hashem. And so, Hashems plan will continue.

Its natural progression that fits within a pre existing framework.

Absolutely.

Youve said in interviews, there was a period in your younger years when you were homeless. Did any Jewish teachings or religious scholars help you get through this period?

Ive really liked reading rabbinical studies through Chabad and I have many of those books in my backpack when I was homeless in Brooklyn. Its hard to imagine having the mental strength I had without those studies, those teachings from the rabbinical community. All my Chabad books helped me greatly.

Theres so much uncertainty in the world right now. Theres a lot of fear with Coronavirus and even before that politics became so divided. How do you think the Torahs teachings can help us heal?

The Torah can give us perspective. As you know, as we live these brief lives, our lives are like asteroids or comets in the night sky, very brief is our human life. And the Torah gives us perspective that our life is very brief but Hashem created the universe. The Torah gives us perspective beyond our years, beyond our lives. I read once that the average human life is around 27,000 days. Think about that perspective. 27,000 days, its not very long at all. And if you think about Hashem and what hes done throughout all time, it obviously supersedes 27,000 days. So it gives us a perspective and a confidence beyond our own.

How do you continue to give back to the Jewish community, whether its philanthropy or volunteering or mentoring?

I do a lot of volunteering in the community with a primary focus on actively building schools. Im also very active and available for students who are learning Torah, and I seek to be a much larger contributor to Israel. I aspire to be a leader like my heroes David Geffen, Haim Saban and Arnon Milchan have gone before me as entrepreneurs.

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How Spirituality and Jewish Values Informed Lucas Asher's Business Success - The Jewish Voice

‘Four Last Things’ Spiritual Successor ‘The Procession to Calvary’ Hits Desktop April 9th with Mobile Versions in the Works – Touch Arcade

Posted on March 31, 2020 by Danzig

Back in 2016 developer Joe Richardson submitted a game to Game Jolts Adventure Jam called Four Last Things, which took famous Renaissance Era paintings and public domain classical music and repurposed them into a humorous, Monty Python-esque point-and-click adventure game. The game jam submission was fleshed out into a full-fledged release thanks to fan support via a successful Kickstarter campaign, and it was released on Steam in early 2017. About a year later Four Last Things was released for mobile and we enjoyed that version quite a bit in our review from back then. Now after another successful Kickstarter about a year and a half ago, a spiritual successor was put into motion called The Procession to Calvary. If you enjoyed everything about Four Last Things and were craving more of it, that appears to be exactly what this will deliver. Check out the trailer.

The Procession to Calvary is described as a spiritual successor instead of a sequel because, while it does take place in the same universe as Four Last Things, its a totally independent story and you dont have to have played Four Last Things to understand or enjoy this game. It will also contain a feature called Optional Murder" which will allow you to use your sword to instantly kill people in the game as a way of bypassing certain puzzles. However, you cant just go around murdering all willy nilly without there being some sort of consequences. It sounds like yet another really entertaining experience from this clever developer, and if youre a PC gamer type you can actually get your hands on The Procession to Calvary when it launches on desktop April 9th. A mobile version will follow shortly after" though, and well give you a heads up when the date for that is announced.

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'Four Last Things' Spiritual Successor 'The Procession to Calvary' Hits Desktop April 9th with Mobile Versions in the Works - Touch Arcade

Online group meets regularly to pray the Rosary to nourish spiritual and mental needs of community – Catholic Leader

Posted on March 31, 2020 by Danzig

Rosary: The Church is more than the buildings and the clergy, (the people) are as much a part of it, just as important as the buildings and the institution.

CHURCHES closed their doors in accordance with Federal Government health advice last week but that has not stopped local Catholics congregating in online communities to pray the Rosary together.

Jeremy Fraser, who was a member of Surfers Paradise parish, led one of these groups.

The Rosary, and groups like this, I think are so important, Mr Fraser said.

Mr Fraser said it was as much about nourishing the spiritual life as it was about easing the psychological side of isolation.

He said it was important just to show people theyre not alone.

Its a good way of fostering community, he said.

The Church is more than the buildings and the clergy, (the people) are as much a part of it, just as important as the buildings and the institution.

Mr Fraser joined regularly in virtual sessions of five to seven people to say the Rosary.

The group only started last week in response to COVID-19 but had already grown from three members to 17.

The group was a cross-section of ages from people in their late 30s to seniors aged in their 70s and 80s, he said.

The groups goal was to meet up a few times a week.

He said he loved to say the Rosary and prayed it regularly as a member of the Angelic Warfare Confraternity and Holy Rosary Confraternity run by the Dominican Friars.

Mr Fraser said he hoped the Rosary group could continue to grow into the future as the impact of coronavirus was set to grow.

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Online group meets regularly to pray the Rosary to nourish spiritual and mental needs of community - Catholic Leader

Religion and Spirituality Books Preview: April 2020 – Publishers Weekly

Posted on March 31, 2020 by Danzig

Essays on power, influence, and autonomy in The Myth of the American Dream, a look into the life of a gay priest, and How to Not be a Hot Mess are some of the books coming from religion and spirituality publishers in April.

Nonfiction

Apr. 1

And the Prophet Said: Kahlil Gibrans Classic Text with Newly Discovered Writings, edited by Dalton Hilu Einhorn (Hampton Roads, $14.95 paper, ISBN 978-1-64297-016-6). Kahlil Gibran scholar Einhorn introduces the spiritualists classic The Prophet alongside 150 previously unpublished poems, aphorisms, and sayings.

Back Pocket God: Religion and Spirituality in the Lives of Emerging Adults by Melinda Lundquist Denton and Richard Flory (Oxford Univ., $29.95, ISBN 978-0-19-006478-5). A massive research project tracking the religious inclinations of young people over the course of a decade concludes with this third volume.

Apr. 2

Reed of God by Caryll Houselander (Christian Classics, $13.95 paper, ISBN 978-0-87061-240-4). British Catholic writer and artist Houselander explores the humanity of Mary, Mother of God.

Earth, Our Original Monastery: Cultivating Wonder and Gratitude through Intimacy with Nature by Christine Valters Paintner (Sorin, $16.95 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-932057-20-1). Paintner, abbess for Abbey of the Arts, shares how an appreciation for the natural world can make one more aware of the presence of God.

Apr. 4

The Myth of the American Dream: Reflections on Affluence, Autonomy, Safety, and Power by D.L. Mayfield (IVP, $22, ISBN 978-0-8308-4598-9). In essays grouped around affluence, autonomy, safety, and power, activist Mayfield questions if the American dream lives up to Jesuss command to love ones neighbor.

Apr. 7

American Prophets: The Religious Roots of Progressive Politics and the Ongoing Fight for the Soul of the Country by Jack Jenkins (HarperOne, $27.99, ISBN 978-0-06-293598-4). Religion reporter Jenkins explores the foundations and evolution of progressive faith-based activism in the U.S.

Your Story Matters: Finding, Writing, and Living the Truth of Your Life by Leslie Leyland Fields (NavPress, $16.99 paper, ISBN 978-1-64158-219-3). Christian author Fields presents her spiritually focused writing techniques for processing ones past in order to live a more fulfilling life in the present.

In Unison: The Unfinished Story of Jeremy and Adrienne Camp by Jeremy and Adrienne Camp (Harvest House, $20 paper, ISBN 978-0-7369-8068-5). Grammy-nominated singer Camp and his wife, Adrienne, share biblically infused lessons from their years together.

Wiccan Kitchen: A Guide to Magical Cooking & Recipes by Lisa Chamberlain (Sterling, $16.95 paper, ISBN 978-1-4549-3470-7) collects Wiccan recipes, menus, and ideas for incorporating magical practices into cooking.

When Did We Start Forgetting God?: The Root of the Evangelical Crisis and Hope for the Future by Mark Galli (Tyndale House, $16.99 paper, ISBN 978-1-4143-7361-4). Galli, former editor-in-chief of Christianity Today, analyzes the state of evangelicalism and encourages readers to turn their attention away from the politics of the moment to consider what has changed in contemporary spirituality.

A Woman Called Moses: A Prophet for Our Time by Jean-Christophe Attias (Verso, $26.95, ISBN 978-1-78873-639-8). Attias, a professor at the Sorbonne in Paris, follows the metamorphoses of Moses through ages and cultures and draws on rabbinical sources, as well as the Bible itself, to examine what he calls a fragile prophet.

Part-Time Is Plenty: Thriving Without Full-Time Clergy by G. Jeffrey MacDonald (Westminster John Knox, $22 paper, ISBN 978-0-664-26599-1). Journalist and part-time pastor MacDonald considers how to run effective ministries with just half- or quarter-time professional ministers.

Apr. 10

Missionaries, Converts, and Rabbis: The Evangelical Alexander McCaul and Jewish-Christian Debate in the Nineteenth Century by David B. Ruderman (Univ. of Pennsylvania, $55, ISBN 978-0-8122-5214-9). Ruderman, professor of modern Jewish History at the University of Pennsylvania, details the life and work of evangelical missionary Alexander McCaul (17991863), who was sent to Warsaw by the London Society for the Promotion of Christianity Amongst the Jews.

Apr. 14

Christianity: A Historical Atlas, edited by Alec Ryrie, maps by Malcolm Swanston (Harvard Univ., $35, ISBN 978-0-674-24235-7). Historian Ryrie and cartographer Swanston depict the rise and spread of Christianity from its origins to the present day through more than 100 color maps.

Crystal Zodiac: An Astrological Guide to Enhancing Your Life with Crystals by Katie Huang (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $20, ISBN 978-0-358-21304-8) breaks down the benefits of crystal healing and astrology, showing how the two can work together to prioritize mindfulness.

Once a Shooter: Redemption of a High School Gunman by T.J. Stevens (Salem, $22.99, ISBN 978-1-68451-019-1). Stevens, who walked into a high school in Burke, Va., with a rifle in 1982, explores the epiphanic transformation that stopped him from carrying out his planned execution of nine hostages and then himself. Book royalties will be donated to a charity that hosts events for troubled teens.

Bewitching the Elements: A Guide to Empowering Yourself Through Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit by Gabriela Herstik (TarcherPerigee, $15 paper, ISBN 978-0-593-08621-6). Nylon columnist Herstik aims to empower readers by connecting to the five elements through meditation, breath work, tarot, crystals, rituals, and journaling.

Apr. 15

Confessions of a Gay Priest: A Memoir of Sex, Love, Abuse, and Scandal in the Catholic by Tom Rastrelli (Univ. of Iowa, $19.95 paper, ISBN 978-1-60938-709-9). Rastrelli, a survivor of clergy-perpetrated sexual abuse, explores the secretive inner workings of the seminary, providing an intimate and unapologetic look into the dynamics of celibacy and the cycle of abuse and cover-up.

Saving History: How White Evangelicals Tour the Nations Capital and Redeem a Christian America by Lauren R. Kerby (Univ. of North Carolina, $22 paper, ISBN 978-1-4696-5877-3). Kerby, education specialist at Harvard Divinity School, tells of her trips on tour buses through Washington, D.C., alongside white evangelicals searching for evidence that America was founded as a Christian nation.

Apr. 17

The Lonely Letters by Ashon T. Crawley (Duke Univ., $24.95 paper, ISBN 978-1-4780-0824-8) is an epistolary critique of current society through a black, queer lens. Crawley meditates on the interrelation of black and queer life with the black church, theology, and mysticism.

Apr. 21

Grace Guide: Live Your One Beautiful Life by Susie Davis (Abingdon, $19.99, ISBN 978-1-5018-9842-6). Davis presents a spiritual guide for women designed as biblically grounded reflections on memories both good and bad, including challenges such as writing a letter to ones younger self.

Madame Clairevoyants Guide to the Stars: Astrology, Our Icons, and Our Selves by Claire Comstock-Gay (Harper, $26.99, ISBN 978-0-06-291333-3). New York magazine columnist Comstock-Gay explores how the 12 astrological signs are embodied by celebrities, including Aretha Franklin and Fred Rogers, to reveal what the sky has to teach about being human.

How to Meditate Like a Buddhist by Cynthia Kane (Hierophant, $16.95 paper, ISBN 978-1-950253-00-5). Meditation instructor Kane guides readers through aspects of meditation technique, including posture, breathing, and mind-set.

Apr. 28

Coming Home to Yourself: A Meditators Guide to Blissful Living by Osho (Harmony, $15.99 paper, ISBN 978-1-984826-81-7). Spiritual teacher Osho collects mindfulness exercises for relaxation and finding inner peace.

Strange Rites: New Religions for a Godless World by Tara Isabella Burton (PublicAffairs, $28, ISBN 978-1-5417-6253-4). Burton, a columnist at Religion News Service, tours contemporary forms of American spirituality by looking at personal faiths that mix ritualistic, personal, and political practices.

Tara: The Liberating Power of the Female Buddha by Rachael Wooten (Sounds True, $17.99 paper, ISBN 978-1-68364-388-3). Psychologist Wooten presents a guide for channeling the power of Tara, the female Buddhist deity of Tibet. Included are meditation instructions and Tibetan Buddhist teachings.

How Not to Be a Hot Mess: A Survival Guide for Modern Life by Craig Hase and Devon Hase (Shambhala, $18.95, ISBN 978-1-61180-798-1) offers Buddhist-inspired advice for staying grounded in a chaotic world, from a candid husband-and-wife team.

Fiction

Apr. 21

Englisch Daughter by Cindy and Erin Woodsmall (Waterbrook, $15.99 paper, ISBN 978-0-7352-9102-7). A marriage is tested in this Old Order Amish novel featuring a dedicated wife who realizes her husband has squandered their savings and has been hiding a child with another woman

Apr. 28

Being Known by Robin Jones Gunn (Multnomah, $15.99 paper, ISBN 978-0-7352-9077-8). Jennalyn begins to doubt her marriage and all her other life choices after her mother dies. She must ask hard questions of herself and God to find answers.

Promise at Pebble Creek by Lisa Jones Baker (Zebra, $7.99 mass market, ISBN 978-1-4201-4748-3). Amish Hannah Lapp dreams about a different life and secretly writes novels about the Englisch world. When Chicagoan Marcus Jackson visits her familys store, Hannahs world is changed by their friendship.

Religion and Spirituality Books Preview: April 2020 - Publishers Weekly

‘People Are Coming to Us Saying, I Need Hope’: Fighting on the Front Lines of Spiritual Awakening – Christianheadlines.com

Posted on March 31, 2020 by Danzig

'People Are Coming to Us Saying, I Need Hope': Fighting on the Front Lines of Spiritual Awakening

The Civil War ended 155 years ago next month. World War II ended 75 years ago this fall.

In the midst of both horrific conflicts, a spiritual war was being waged as well.

During the Civil War, revival services were common on both sides. Nightly prayer meetings were held in many regiments; tent meetings were filled to overflowing. A Confederate chaplain noted that scores of men are converted immediately after great battles. A Pennsylvania soldier wrote, The fact that I must die became to me living and real.

A Wall Street Journal article notes that after World War II, Americans, chastened by the horrors of war, turned to faith in search of truth and meaning. In the late 1940s, Gallup surveys showed more than three-quarters of Americans were members of a house of worship, compared with about half today. Congress added the words under God to the Pledge of Allegiance in 1954. Some would later call this a Third Great Awakening.

We are fighting a war today that is just as real as those deadly conflicts.

At a news briefing yesterday, President Trump stated that the peak in death rate in the pandemic is likely to hit in two weeks and announced that the federal government is extending its social-distancing guidelines through April 30.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the US governments foremost infectious disease expert, said yesterday that the US could experience millions of cases of COVID-19 and between one hundred thousand and two hundred thousand deaths in the US based on what were seeing now.

Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, also said Sunday that the administration is asking every single governor and every single mayor to prepare like New York is preparing now. She added, No state, no metro area will be spared.

In the face of this crisis, Americans are responding to the coronavirus pandemic in remarkably creative ways.

Some are holding virtual dinner parties. In one, eight households from Nashville to Chicago participated; everyone made pasta with red sauce. A Maryland woman is giving a daily thirty-minute cello concert on her front porch to reconnect with her neighbors.

Teachers are staging car parades where their students live; one in Dallas made national headlines. A couple forced to downsize their wedding was greeted after the ceremony by a parade of guests who were unable to attend.

Members of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra gave a socially distanced performance of Aaron Coplands Appalachian Spring that I encourage you to hear. And the Nashville Studio Singer Community created a virtual cell phone choir to deliver one of the most stirring performances of It Is Well with My Soul that I have ever heard.

What can Christians uniquely do to serve our world and our Lord in these critical days?

I believe that this unprecedented crisis presents the most unprecedented opportunity for spiritual awakening in my lifetime. As with the Civil War and World War II, the fact of mortality is more obvious for more of us than ever before. A deadly disease that anyone can get is a deadly disease everyone can get.

Could it be that God would redeem this global medical outbreak by using it to spark a global spiritual outbreak? Could he be calling his people to the front lines of this spiritual battle?

2 Chronicles 7:14 is a familiar text to most of us. It ends with Gods promise to heal their land, the miracle we need today. What precedes this blessing?

The text states: If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land. We must humble ourselves, admitting that we need what only God can give us. Then we praythe Hebrew word describes collective prayer for divine favor. To seek my face points to a personal, passionate engagement with the Lord. To turn from their wicked ways is to repent of sins that the first three acts have revealed.

The Lord willing, I will explore each of these steps with you across my morning Daily Articlesthis week. For today, lets begin by making a covenant together that we will earnestly seek the spiritual awakening we urgently need.

To that end, well close today with some good news: the global pandemic is sparking global interest in the good news of Gods love.

Global Media Outreach (GMO) was founded in 2004 by my longtime friend, Walt Wilson. This year, they will reach the milestone moment of sharing the gospel with 2 billion people. They have seen more than 223 million people respond positively to the message of faith and hope in Christ. Their 3,500 online missionaries disciple people with spiritual needs in 50 languages.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, GMO has gone from reaching 350,000 people per day to upwards of 500,000 globally. A GMO leader told the Christian Post, People are coming to us saying, I need hope. Where can I find hope in the face of tragedy, anxiety, bankruptcy?' He added, When people are in pain, we offer encouragement and hope. Theyre coming to us looking for answers.

Im praying for God to redeem this pandemic by advancing a spiritual awakening that will bring millions to the hope and answers found in Christ. Will you join me?

Publication date: March 30, 2020

Photo courtesy: GettyImages/Kieferpix

For more from the Denison Forum, please visit http://www.denisonforum.org.

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'People Are Coming to Us Saying, I Need Hope': Fighting on the Front Lines of Spiritual Awakening - Christianheadlines.com

Bishop tests negative, urges all to care for physical and spiritual health – Crux: Covering all things Catholic

Posted on March 31, 2020 by Danzig

RICHMOND, Virginia Acknowledging the extraordinary measures people need to take to remain physically healthy during the coronavirus pandemic, Bishop Barry C. Knestout of Richmond told the people of his diocese they need to be mindful of their spiritual health.

We also confront a spiritual danger one of fear, anxiety, anger, frustration and possibly even despair. This danger is caused by our interior response to an external threat to our life, culture, work and home, he said during his homily at a private Mass livestreamed from the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart March 22.

As we confront this threat to our well-being, it is important to remember that we must attend to our spiritual as well as our physical health, he added. Both are interrelated and one affects the other.

The day after the Mass the bishop learned he had tested negative for the coronavirus. On March 14, he went into self-isolation out of care and caution because he had a minor cold after returning from two weeks of traveling around the diocese. On his doctors recommendation, Knestout visited a health care facility March 19 to be tested for the flu and COVID-19.

At the time of the livestreamed Mass, Knestout had not yet received the negative test result, so he did not celebrate the Mass but delivered his homily from a side chapel in the cathedral The Mass was concelebrated by the dioceses vicar general, Father Michael Boehling, and the cathedral rector, Father Anthony Marques.

In his homily, the bishop spoke about the conflict between the natural desire in times of uncertainty to draw close to one another in a communal setting, and yet to remain physically distant from one another due to COVID-19.

This conflict between the attraction of love and the caution of fear creates tension within and anxiety, he said. What is appropriate and what is an overreaction? What is prudent and what is complacent? What is the remedy then to this emotional and spiritual conflict within us?

Amid calls to distance, we must still remember charity and the command to respond to the needs of the vulnerable, weak and the poor, he said. Isolation can be as dangerous to life as a virus is. Lets not allow the anxiety about the virus to keep us from expressing charity to those in need.

Knestout said that technology provides people an opportunity to ensure charity, even at a distance.

Each of us can plan to contact 10 people each day, to encourage them, listen to them, find out if they have any needs, if they are struggling with any difficulties, he said. Once we know of these needs, with courage we should act, to seek out ways to help and remedy their need. We can do so with right judgment, with prudence.

Knestout said prayer is the key to all that the faith community does.

In a time when we are fearful of a new virus threatening lives, and we need to socially distance ourselves from one another to safeguard each others health, our faith allows us to see this time of isolation and anxiety, as an occasion for drawing close to God in solitude and prayer, he said.

Prior to the conclusion of Mass, Knestout consecrated the diocese to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Olszewski is the editor of The Catholic Virginian, newspaper of the Diocese of Richmond.

Crux is dedicated to smart, wired and independent reporting on the Vatican and worldwide Catholic Church. That kind of reporting doesnt come cheap, and we need your support. You can help Crux by giving a small amount monthly, or with a onetime gift. Please remember, Crux is a for-profit organization, so contributions are not tax-deductible.

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Bishop tests negative, urges all to care for physical and spiritual health - Crux: Covering all things Catholic

Why Donald Trump is a threat to the United States’ spiritual well-being – ABC News

Posted on March 31, 2020 by Danzig

Many Americans are beginning to realise that President Donald Trump poses a grave threat to public health and well-being. Thankfully, public health experts are sounding the alarm, and at least one public radio station has decided not to live broadcast his misleading and dangerous coronavirus briefings. Even the threat that Trump poses to the nations mental health has been well documented. But Trump also poses a grave moral and spiritual hazard to the American people a danger that has so far gone unnamed and unappreciated.

Others have written about the immediate threat he poses to American lives, first by minimising the threat of COVID-19 and, most recently, by signalling that he plans to reopen the economy against the advice of his own public health officials. Months of inaction have exacerbated the scale of the crisis.

But the spiritual threat he poses has passed unrecognised. Trumps casual cruelty, mendacity and consuming self-interest can corrode confidence in human capacities for kindness, candour and compassion. In times of crisis, a divided nation customarily rallies together and gives expression to the better angels of our nature. Those who recall the immediate aftermath of 9/11 can testify to the tangible care Americans extended to each other. We looked each other in the eye, greeted each other in public and looked after each other. Our public leaders, however flawed, and even talk show hosts exhibited vulnerability and care. This mood of tenderness, however short-lived and drowned out by the drumbeats of war, mattered because it ennobled us. We knew we had suffered a shared loss and that we belonged to each other.

Things are different this time around because the loudest public figure in our nation daily runs roughshod over basic norms of truth telling, decency and empathy. Crass monetary calculations and insistent demands for fealty and adulation from the nations governors these remain his consuming obsessions. His insistence that lifesaving stay-at-home measures are a cure that is worse than the disease is just one flagrant example of wanton disregard for human life.

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There is a real time cost to being subjected to this constant onslaught of moral degradation. Rather than a bully pulpit that might rouse the nation to mutual aid and sacrifice, the President and his acolytes invite the nations grandparents to stand ready to die for the sake of the economy. Divisiveness and derision now set the tone of our common life.

Daily exposure to such debasement, whether by tweet or by briefing, raises dispiriting questions: Is this the best our nations leader can do? Is there in him any redeemable character trait that can serve as a beacon of light in an otherwise dark and deadly situation? Under the cumulative barrage of lies and life-threatening misinformation, the questions morph and become broader. Rather than ask about just about one mans peculiar degradation, we begin to wonder about human nature itself. Are some human beings irredeemable, incapable of learning and growth? Are we nave, even foolish, to expect human beings to set aside self-interest and rise to responsibilities thrust upon them by extraordinary times? Under the relentless of assault of his pettiness, we are rendered vulnerable to rage, cynicism and a subtle, pervasive lowering of moral expectations for ourselves and others.

Breathing in spiritual pollution is akin to the breathing in air pollution in New Delhi. Just as air pollutants harm lung capacities, so too our spiritual capacities, love, resilience, trust and confidence in human goodness are diminished by constant exposure to such spiritual toxins as hubris, venality and hate.

No wonder, then, that New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has become a stand-in President for many who look for a leader who projects competence, empathy and compassion. New Yorkers know all too well that Cuomo is no saint. But he consistently sets a spiritual and moral tone of decency and dignity and has thereby restored a measure of confidence in our leaders and, more importantly, in ourselves.

But we neednt look to Cuomo alone. Instead, call to mind the number 76,000 that is the number of volunteers who have answered Governor Cuomos call to join the frontlines in the struggle against COVID-19. Many have come out of retirement and so are in the age bracket most vulnerable to this disease; nevertheless, they have stepped forward bravely.

We are inclined to believe that heroic goodness is found only in a handful of extraordinary people like Martin Luther King, Jr. or Mother Teresa, but it seems that New York State alone has 76,000 Mother Teresas. Truth be told, that is a vast undercount. After all, those of us who are sheltering at home do so because we too want our neighbours to be safe and healthy. This too is a form of quotidian kindness, an unheralded and humble heroism.

The worlds wisdom traditions offer theological accounts of what enables such generosity. Christians affirm that human beings bear the imago dei the image of God a mark of divine grace that orients and impels us toward love. Most Christian communities hold that sin cannot altogether erase this original created goodness. Buddhists affirm that human beings indeed, all sentient beings bear the Buddha-nature which is the ground of innate wisdom and compassion. We do fall into ignorance, but our primordial nature abides.

These traditions testify that we need not give up on ourselves and on others, that despite appearances to the contrary, there is far more love and kindness in the world than hate and cruelty. The callous deeds of a few in prominent places need not drive us into despair about our neighbours and ourselves. We would do well to listen to and learn from one of our lesser known contemporary theologians, Governor Andrew Cuomo himself, who reminded us recently, And at the end of the day, my friends, even if it is a long day, and this is a long day, love wins. Always.

John J. Thatamanil is Associate Professor of Theology and World Religions at Union Theological Seminary in New York. He is the author of the forthcoming book, Circling the Elephant: A Comparative Theology of Religious Diversity.

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Why Donald Trump is a threat to the United States' spiritual well-being - ABC News

Around the Caribbean… Around the Caribbean…Around the Caribbean… – Jamaica Observer

Posted on March 31, 2020 by Danzig

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Grenada PM defends curfew

ST GEORGE'S, Grenada (CMC) Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell said yesterday he remains confident and optimistic that Grenada will be able to weather the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic as he defended his Administration's decision to impose a curfew on the island.

Mitchell, speaking at a news conference here, said that virus was not only a health problem but a global economic one with implications for all sectors of the global society.

Businesses, workers, those who are already vulnerable; even the coffers of government are impacted by this crisis, he told reporters adding that the seven-day mandatory curfew is part of efforts to reduce community transmission of COVID-19.

Mitchell, who was accompanied by his Health Minister Nicholas Steele, said that the pandemic had thrown the global community into a tailspin.

But we have to arm ourselves the best way possible to get through this crisis. The long and short of this pandemic, is that the longer we take to adhere to the advice of the experts and the regulations issued by Government, it is the longer we will be in this situation, he warned.

T&T security minister condemns behaviour of cops, soldiers

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) National Security Minister Stuart Young said yesterday that 'an immediate investigation would be conducted by the police and the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force (TTDF) after videos on social media show law enforcement officials engaged in inappropriate behaviour as the country urged people to stay home to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

In a statement, Young said that he had seen the videos that appear to be of certain members of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service and the TTDF engaging in inappropriate behaviour with members of the public, forcing them to consume what may be alcoholic beverages.

The behaviour depicted in the videos is condemned in the strongest manner, Young said, noting that he had communicated his position to the Police Commissioner Gary Griffith and the Chief of Defence Force Air Commodore Darryl Daniel.

In the video, the law enforcement officers are heard and seen laughing as they give two men drinks in a rum bottle. In one of the videos a man was threatened to be shot if he did not consume the drink in a timely manner and do as he was told. Another man was made to do push-ups and outrun a police vehicle, while another man is seen choking on the drink.

Barbados Gov't issues warning to employers

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) The Barbados Government is warning employers that they are in breach of the law if they insist that their workers take vacation during the curfew period that has been instituted here as part of the efforts to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The 8:00 pm to 6:00 am curfew is expected to end on Tuesday, April 14.

Attorney General Dale Marshall warned employers that the law is the law and it must not be mocked. He said under the Holidays with Pay Act, an employer cannot send an employee on vacation without giving him adequate notice.

So, when an employer says to an employee, I want you to take a vacation, that employee has the right to say no, plain and simple. I'm not here to give people labour law advice, but that is the effect of the law; we have not amended that legislation, he said.

According to the Holiday with Pay Act, employers are required to give staff no less than 14 days of notice for vacation leave. However, the attorney general has appealed to employees with accumulated vacation days to compromise.

Let's be reasonable. I know of some in some places where employers have said that individuals have 120 days of vacation accumulated. So, if an employer says to an individual, I want you to take vacation, there should be some spirit of compromise, if you have that flexibility, he said.

Nation urged to help fight war against COVID-19

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley on Sunday urged the nation to fight the invisible enemy COVID-19.

In a message delivered from his residence, just hours before the implementation of measures to curb the spread of the virus, Rowley put the twin island republic on the war path.

In making reference to citizens who fought in both World Wars, the Prime Minister said that the battle against the coronavirus is no different.

The difference between this war and those World Wars was that those who picked up arms to defend us, carried guns, fired bullets. The war that we're fighting now is an invisible enemy, a micro-pathogen that you will not see with the naked eye, but we know it's there, he said.

This pathogen could strike us and it could take days before we know who is a casualty.

In those days when the instruction was given, it was more than likely an instruction that says, 'To the breaches, aim, fire.' Today the instructions are, 'Take cover', meaning, stay home. Do not congregate; isolate and quarantine yourselves, Rowley said.

Today, every single one of us has to be a soldier because the enemy can come from any one of us. So we have to be extra careful, he added.

Now you can read the Jamaica Observer ePaper anytime, anywhere. The Jamaica Observer ePaper is available to you at home or at work, and is the same edition as the printed copy available at http://bit.ly/epaperlive

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Around the Caribbean... Around the Caribbean...Around the Caribbean... - Jamaica Observer

Helping the Caribbean in a Pandemic | Therese Turner-Jones – Caribbean360.com

Posted on March 31, 2020 by Danzig

By Therese Turner-Jones

WASHINGTON, United States, Monday March 30, 2020 Cruise ships are docked. Flights are grounded and tourists are staying home. As the coronavirus grinds the world economy to a halt, the small, open economies of the Caribbean are taking a hard hit.

TheBahamas, Barbados and Jamaica are dependent on tourism. Oil and natural gasprices are plunging, hurting Guyana, Suriname, and Trinidad & Tobago.

Arecent exploration of economic scenarios gives some indication of the extent towhich the reduction in tourist arrivals could impact the GDP of Caribbeancountries. The worst scenario: a 75 per cent reduction in tourism arrivals overthe last 3 quarters of the year could reduce GDP by between 11 per cent and 26per cent in the case of The Bahamas, with similar numbers for Barbados andJamaica. Governments need urgent financial support.

Atthe Inter-American Development Bank, we are taking steps to help our six Caribbeanmember countries. We are increasing the availability of funds, adjusting ourlending instruments, re-channeling technical assistance grants, andestablishing exchange andlearning platforms, to provideimmediate responses to the countries specific demands. We are devoting ourentire network of collaboration, knowledge, and dialogueto serve theregional effort combating thepandemic.

Forour 26-member countries, we have added US$3.3 billion in additional funds tothe 2020 lending program. These resources, together with the availableprogrammed resources, make up to US$12 billion available to the countries toaddress the health crisis and the economic impacts stemming from the pandemic.

Wehave immediately offered countries the ability to reallocate resources from thehealth portfolio and will consider reformulating the entire loan portfolio toredirect available resources for an amount equivalent to 10 per cent of theundisbursed loan balances in the investment portfolio or up to US$50 million,whichever occurs first. The IDB is also making US$50 million of our ownresources available to Latin America and the Caribbean for national andregional grant assistance, as well as technical cooperation funds fromnonregional partners under the IDBs administration.

IDBInvest will join this effort with US$5 billion in 2020 for Latin America andthe Caribbean. Of this amount, USUS$4.5 billion from its investment programwill be devoted to enable lines to support the financing of the entire tradeand supply chain and finance companies in critical sectors impacted by thecrisis. In addition, IDB Invest will create a new Crisis Mitigation Facilitywith US$500 million to finance the delivery of services and inputs for thehealth sector and provide access to short-term financing for small andmedium-sized enterprises. These financial efforts are being supplemented by thestreamlining of our fiduciary processes and approval times so we can providethe firm and timely support demanded by the situation.

Wewill also be coordinating closely with other multilateral financialinstitutions such as the IMF and the World Bank. This is an all-hands-on-deckmoment.

The health and safety of the people of the Caribbean is our top priority. The steps governments are taking to protect the lives of their citizens are encouraging. We urge all governments to enforce urgent regulations to restrict the spread of the virus. And we urge citizens to abide by these rules. Our teams in your countries are fully engaged with policy makers to fulfill the most urgent needs and also plan for the future. You can count on the IDB Group, with all the human and financial resources at our disposal, to help you through these challenging times.

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Therese Turner-Jones has been the IDBs country representative for Jamaica since 2013. In 2017 her portfolio was expanded when she was promoted to general manager of IDBs Country Department Caribbean Group (CCB). Her purview spans IDB operations in Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and her home country, the Bahamas. A trained economist, Mrs. Turner-Jones has over 25 years experience in macroeconomics and economic development, with special emphasis on the Caribbean.

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Helping the Caribbean in a Pandemic | Therese Turner-Jones - Caribbean360.com

CHTA: The Caribbean will resurface stronger in tourism – Dominican Today

Posted on March 31, 2020 by Danzig

The main tourism leaders of the Caribbean point to the past experience of the region with great interruptions overcome as hope for its future after COVID-19.

And it is that the Caribbean already has considerable experience in managing interruptions and risks, as recalled by the general director of the Association of Hotels and Tourism of the Caribbean ( CHTA),Frank Comito.

We demonstrated this publication on September 11, through SARS, Zika, hurricanes and other natural disasters in the past two decades, all while experiencing unprecedented growth, he said.

Comito further noted CHTA has been actively working to implement monitoring, awareness and education initiatives across the region, work that started immediately after understanding the COVID-19 threat.

He explained that while much of what happens is beyond individual control, the duration and intensity of the pandemic should be managed through solid collective actions by companies, organizations, communities, and governments.

However, he said that it is desired that tourism in the Caribbean emerge and know how to use the lessons learned to help make the region even more desirable.

Despite the temporary dark clouds, the sun is shining in the Caribbean and will continue to do so.As we go through this, the world will need the Caribbean to help it heal, said Comito.

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CHTA: The Caribbean will resurface stronger in tourism - Dominican Today

Captain Lee From ‘Below Deck’ Expresses Concern the Caribbean Will Be ‘Hit Hard’ by Coronavirus – Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Posted on March 31, 2020 by Danzig

Captain Lee Rosbach from Below Deck recently expressed concern about the potential impact the coronavirus will have on islands in the Caribbean.

Rosbach appeared on a webinar hosted by Denison Yachts, The Palm Beach Post reports. He revealed he recently returned from being in the Caribbean, which likely gives him a unique perspective about what could occur along the tiny island chain. Below Deck season 8 was filming in the Caribbean and reportedly cut production short due to the virus.

He worried about both the health and economic impact the virus will have on the area. Last fall, Hurricane Dorian slammed the Bahamas causing an estimated $1.5 to $3 billion worth of damage in the Caribbean. Hurricanes alone can destroy businesses, leaving lasting economic hardships. However, the coronavirus has an additional layer of concern from a public health standpoint.

Rosbach shared video and photos upon his return about two weeks ago. But he said the Caribbean is already being impacted. Those guys are really getting hit hard, he said during the Denison webcast. When your whole economy is based around people paying a duty, and then no one is paying the duty, your whole infrastructure goes down the tubes.

In addition to yachting, many cruise lines travel to ports in the Caribbean. Now that cruises are put on hold, Rosbach sees how the economy is taking a beating.

However, unlike a hurricane that can destroy the entire infrastructure, a pandemic should allow businesses to become fully operational once the threat passes. Rosbach seems optimistic the downturn wont be everlasting. The snap back for the economy is going to be huge, he said. Once the dam gets open, its really going to flow.

Rosbach has been sharing motivational videos on Instagram filled with advice. He urges everyone to stay home and practice social distancing. In a recent video, he also told people to avoid hoarding. And for Gods sakes dont buy the last package of toilet paper, seriously people? If theres one pack left, leave it for someone who really needs it, he said.

But he also knows people get antsy being at home for a lengthy period of time. As a captain who spent an extensive amount of time at sea, he knows all about cabin fever. Cabin fever is a very real thing, he said in the webinar. Noting being cooped up too long will have an impact on mental health.

Hes shown people how they can still practice social distancing while getting fresh air. He took a bike ride during his first video. He also shot another video from his gorgeous, tropical backyard. Rosbach has also offered advice using a few of his infamous phrases too.

I want to make sure everybodys still doing the right thing, hanging in there, hanging tough, he said. As I said before, were going to get through this. We dont have to get our knickers in a wad over it. We just need to keep doing the right thing and not screwing the pooch.

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Captain Lee From 'Below Deck' Expresses Concern the Caribbean Will Be 'Hit Hard' by Coronavirus - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Trinidad Records Third Death from COVID-19 – caribbeannationalweekly.com

Posted on March 31, 2020 by Danzig

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad Trinidad and Tobago Saturday recorded its third death from the coronavirus (COVID-19) becoming the only country in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to has registered more than one death associated with the virus that has killed more than 18,000 people since December last year.

Jamaica and Guyana are the other two CARICOM countries to have reported deaths associated with the virus.

As is customary, the Ministry of Health in making the announcement gave no details as to who the latest victim is, and urged citizens not to panic and continue to follow the guidelines as outlined by the health authorities.

It said that the number of samples submitted to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) for testing for COVID-19 had reached 500 and that 76 had tested positive with the three deaths. It said one person has since been discharged.

Of the total number of positive cases, 49 of these positive cases came from the group of nationals who recently returned from a cruise, the statement said, adding there had been 46 positive cases from the group of 68 nationals who returned from the cruise together

The Ministry of Health said that there were also three positive cases from the group of nationals who returned from the same cruise, after having arrived here separately from the other 68 nationals.

On Friday, Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh warned that the country is at a tipping point this weekend and could have an exponential rise in COVID-19 cases if the estimated 20,000 nationals who returned to the country recently do not self-quarantine.

This is not a joke, not a drill, not a practice run. This is the real thing, he told reporters that even though the countrys borders had been closed last week Sunday, prior to that approximately 19,852 travellers and resident citizens returned home.

That is where the tipping point is, because the vast majority of these 19,852 would have come from three major countries: the UK, Canada and the US. And we see what is happening in the UK and the US especially.

He said these 19,852 people need to stay at home and self-quarantine adding that symptoms generally appear between seven to eight days after exposure. He said the country was now coming into the period where it is most critical for them to self-isolate.

However we know some persons do not heed these warnings.

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Trinidad Records Third Death from COVID-19 - caribbeannationalweekly.com

On the Trail of James Bond in the Caribbean, From Jamaica to Nassau – Caribbean Journal

Posted on March 31, 2020 by Danzig

Ever since Ursula Andress took her sensuous stroll out of the surf at Dunns River Falls in 1962s Dr. No, theres been a love affair between the James Bond movies and the Caribbean.

And the sultry relationship continues right through the latest in the 25-film franchise, 2020s No Time to Die, which like the original takes place party in Jamaica. (Its slated for a premiere in November).

The pairing of a sleek British agent with a license to kill, and the laid-back tropics may seem incongruous at first glance. But Ian Fleming, the former intelligence officer who penned 14 James Bond books, had a home in Jamaica, and often featured the islands in his books, which inevitably made their way into the film adaptations, as well.

007 has a broad reach in the Caribbean and you can travel to all of these destinations just by watching a Bond film right now.

Jamaica: The most 007 address in Jamaica is Goldeneye, Ian Flemings former home in Oracabessa thats now a beautiful boutique hotel, part of Chris Blackwells Island Outpost group. Among the lodging options is the Fleming Villa, designed by the author himself and where he wrote all of his James Bond books four of which were set at least in part in Jamaica. GoldenEye, by the way, was named after one of Flemings wartime intelligence missions.

Dr. No introduced the world to Sean Connery as 007 and Andress as an iconic Sixties sex symbol, clad in an unforgettable belted white bikini complete with diving knife as she met James Bond on the fictional Crab Key in reality, Dunns River Falls and Laughing Waters Beach.

In fact, most of the movie was set and filmed in Jamaica, with many locations still recognizable more than half a century later, including the Bauxite terminal in Ocho Rios, Kingston, the Blue Mountains, the White River, Montego Bay, the Morgans Harbor Hotel in Port Royal (now the GrandPort RoyalHotel), and the former San Souci resort, now Couples San Souci (Roger Moores room was D20).

Sans Soucis lobby, gift shop, hibiscus cottage, spa terrace, main beach and entrance all have cameos in Live and Let Die.And even the underground lair of the title character in Dr. No where Bond destroys to prevent an attack on an American space capsule is located in Jamaica in the story.

Another villainous hideout, that of Mr. Kananga in 1973s film version of Live and Let Die, also has Jamaican roots: scenes were filmed in the Green Grotto Caves in Runaway Bay. A villa (Cottage 10) at Half Moon (then the Half Moon Bay Club) was James Bonds (Roger Moores) hotel room during his visit to the fictional island of San Monique in Live and Let Die, where 007 confronted snakes, a villainous waiter, and a beautiful double agent as well as spending the night with Rosie Carver. Cottage 10 remains at the Founders Cove section of Half Moon and can be reserved by guests.

The Jamaican Safari Village near Falmouth is where the scene where several bad guys are dispatched in a pool full of alligators (the attraction is now known as the J. Charles Swabys Black River Safari). And the grounds of the Rose Hall Great House also featured in several scenes in the movie, including a memorable chase through poppy fields.

James Bond will return to Jamaica in 2020s No Time to Die, which was partially filmed in Port Antonio, where the storyline has Bond (Daniel Craig) retiring after years of hard service in the British intelligence agency MI6. Theres also some speculation that the film may include the reincarnation of Dr. No, complete with his Jamaican hideout at Crab Cay.

The Bahamas: Nassau and several other Bahamas locations also have made repeat appearances in James Bond films over the years, and original James Bond actor Sean Connery is a longtime resident of Lyford Cay, a gated community on the western tip of New Providence Island, where Nassau is located.

As Bond, Connery visited the British Colonial Hilton in downtown Nassau in not one but two films: Thunderball and the off-brand Never Say Never Again. The unmissable yellow-walled beachfront hotel retains much of the colonial charm evident in the movie.(Some underwater scenes in Thunderball were also filmed in Exuma at the now-famous Thunderball Grotto.

Other instantly recognizable Nassau locations are all over Thunderball, which includes a Junkanoo parade on Bay Street. The original Cafe Martinique where Bond meets baddie Largo and Bond Girl Domino is long gone, but you can visit a reproduction in the Marina Village at the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island. Nassau also makes an appearance in The Spy Who Loved Me the dramatic final showdown was shot at Coral Harbor. Oddly, however, scenes in License to Kill that were supposedly set in Bimini were in fact shot in Key West.

Daniel Craigs James Bond spends a lot of time on Paradise Island in 2006s Casino Royale, which features scenes shot in the lobby of the then-One&Only Ocean Club (now the Four Seasons Ocean Club) as well as one of the resorts beach villas (#108), where Bond seduces Solange, the girlfriend of movie villain Dimitrios. The poker game in the movie was filmed in the resorts library. The neighboring Atlantis resort and the Nassau airport also appear in the film.

The Bahamas also served as a shooting location for the Roger Moore 007 film For Your Eyes Only (the memorable underwater speargun fight) and for The World is Not Enough (the underwater submarine scenes), which starred Pierce Brosnan.

And theres even a rum distillery. Sort of. The opening scene of Casino Royale is set in Madagascar but actually filmed in The Bahamas, with the Nambutu Embassy scenes filmed at what is now the John Watlings Distillery.

Puerto Rico: Pierce Brosnans Bond also pays a visit to Cuba in GoldenEye, where he fights an epic battle with a renegade double O agent played by Sean Bean (later Ned Stark in Game of Thrones), but its actually all filmed in Puerto Rico, in the massive radio telescope bowl at the Arecibo Observatory.

Haiti: Quantum of Solace, the 2008 Bond film starring Daniel Craig, includes a key sequence set in Haiti. However, it actually was filmed in Panama City.

Cuba: The 2002 Pierce Bronan Bond film Die Another Day also includes scenes set in Havana, Cuba, but filmed in Spain.

EMA grants conditional marketing authorisation in EU for gene therapy Zolgensma – Express Healthcare

Posted on March 30, 2020 by Danzig

To treat babies, young children with spinal muscular atrophy

EMA has recommended granting a conditional marketing authorisation in the European Union for the gene therapy Zolgensma (onasemnogene abeparvovec) to treat babies and young children with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a rare and often fatal genetic disease that causes muscle weakness and progressive loss of movement.

There are currently limited treatment options for children with SMA in the EU. Patients also receive physical aids to support muscular functions and help them and their families cope with the symptoms of the disease.

Spinal muscular atrophy is usually diagnosed in the first year of life. Most patients with severe SMA do not survive early childhood. Patients with the disease cannot produce sufficient amounts of a protein called survival motor neuron (SMN), which is essential for the normal functioning and survival of motor neurons (nerves from the brain and spinal cord that control muscle movements). Without this protein, the motor neurons deteriorate and eventually die. This causes the muscles to fall into disuse, leading to muscle wasting (atrophy) and weakness.

The SMN protein is made by two genes, the SMN1 and SMN2 genes. Patients with spinal muscular atrophy lack the SMN1 gene but have the SMN2 gene, which mostly produces a short SMN protein that cannot work properly on its own. A one-time intravenous administration of Zolgensma supplies a fully functioning copy of the human SMN1 geneenabling the body to produce enough SMN protein. This is expected to improve their muscle function, movement and survival of children with the disease.

Treatment with Zolgensma should only be administered once in suitable clinical centres under the supervision of a physician experienced in the management of patients with SMA.

EMAs recommendation for conditional marketing authorisation is based on the preliminary results of one completed clinical trial and three supporting studies in patients with spinal muscular atrophy with different stages of disease severity. These included genetically diagnosed and pre-symptomatic patients.

The clinical trial providing the main body of data for the assessment of Zolgensma was conducted in 22 patients who were less than six months of age at the time of the gene replacement therapy with Zolgensma. The trial assessed the percentage of patients who had improvement in their survival (i.e. without the need to be permanently on a ventilator) and motor milestones, such as head control, crawling, sitting, standing and walking (with or without assistance).

The survival of patients treated with Zolgensma exceeded what can be expected from untreated patients with severe SMA. Out of 22 patients enrolled in the trial, 20 patients (91 per cent) were alive and did not need permanent ventilatory support at 14 months of age. The experience with this disease shows that at 14 months of age only 25 per cent of patients are still alive. These patients also achieved motor milestones, which are usually not achieved in the natural history of the disease. 14 patients (64 per cent) reached the milestone of independent sitting before 18 months of age. One patient (4 per cent) reached the milestone of walking unassisted before reaching 16 months of age. Patients with less motor deterioration appeared to benefit the most from the treatment with Zolgensma.

The most common side effects found in participants in the clinical trials for Zolgensma wereincreases in liver enzymes (transaminases) seen in blood tests. This is an effect of the immune response to the treatment.

Because Zolgensma is an advanced-therapy medicinal product (ATMP), it was assessed by the Committee for Advanced Therapies (CAT), EMAs expert committee for cell- and gene-based medicines.

On the basis of the CATs assessment and positive opinion, EMAs committee for human medicines (CHMP) recommended a conditional approval for this medicine. This is one of the EUs regulatory mechanisms to facilitate early access to medicines that fulfil an unmet medical need. This type of approval allows the Agency to recommend a medicine for marketing authorisation with less complete data than normally expected, in cases where the benefit of a medicines immediate availability to patients outweighs the risk inherent in the fact that not all the data are yet available.

Additional efficacy and safety data are being collected through three ongoing studies, a long-term registry and further investigations on the product, including recommendations for future quality development. All results must be included in post-marketing safety reports, which are continuously reviewed by EMA.

The opinion adopted by the CHMP is an intermediary step on Zolgensmas path to patient access. The opinion will now be sent to the European Commission for the adoption of a decision on an EU-wide marketing authorisation.Once amarketing authorisationhas been granted, decisions about price and reimbursement will take place at the level of each Member State, taking into account the potential role/use of this medicine in the context of the national health system of that country.

EMA grants conditional marketing authorisation in EU for gene therapy Zolgensma - Express Healthcare

NASA Data Shows Something Leaking Out of Uranus

Posted on March 30, 2020 by Danzig

After revisiting 34-year-old data. NASA made a shocking discovery: Uranus is leaking its gassy atmosphere out into space.

Ayy

NASA scientists digging back through decades-old data from the Voyager 2 spacecraft have made an eyebrow-raising discovery: Something appeared to have been sucking Uranus’ atmosphere out into space.

When Voyager 2 flew past Uranus in 1986, it seems to have passed through something called a plasmoid — a gigantic blob of plasma, essentially — that escaped Uranus and likely pulled a giant gassy cloud of the planet’s fart-like atmosphere along with it, Space.com reports.

Cosmic Wind

Based on the data Voyager 2 collected as it flew through the planetary flatulence, NASA thinks that the plasmoid itself was about 127,000 miles long and twice as wide, according to Space.com. And while the data, first published in August in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, can give NASA a better understanding of Uranus’ atmosphere, one gas bubble won’t tell them everything.

“Imagine if one spacecraft just flew through this room and tried to characterize the entire Earth,” NASA researcher Gina DiBraccio said in a new press release. “Obviously it’s not going to show you anything about what the Sahara or Antarctica is like.”

Second Whiff

NASA speculates that a similar gas-expelling phenomenon could explain how Mars came to be so barren and dry, but that can’t be known for sure. To learn more, Space.com reports, NASA would unfortunately need to send another spacecraft all the way out to Uranus and probe around.

“It’s why I love planetary science,” DiBraccio said. “You’re always going somewhere you don’t really know.”

READ MORE: Old gas blob from Uranus found in vintage Voyager 2 data [Space.com]

More on Uranus: Uranus Is Unexpectedly Turbulent Right Now

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NASA Data Shows Something Leaking Out of Uranus