Monthly Archives: July 2020

Parental feedback helped Ascension schools implement these rules for reopening after coronavirus – The Advocate

Posted: July 5, 2020 at 10:32 am

Public school leaders in Ascension Parish say feedback from parents is helping them as they develop a re-opening plan for the fall, but that it will still be a couple more weeks before they have detailed plans.

In a statement Thursday, the School Board said there are many logistics still to be worked out, including classroom layouts, meal service, transportation and online education options. It said that, for now, parents should buy their children masks ahead of the school year, and that beginning next month parents should consider taking their children's temperature before school each day.

The district has 23,000 students. Classes are scheduled to begin Aug. 5

District leaders say they have contracted with a company to treat all school buildings with a fog that kills 99.99% of harmful microbes and protects all surfaces for 90 days. The treatment will be repeated before the start of the school year and then continued as the academic year progresses. School buses are being disinfected andthe district is instituting regular cleaning protocols in place for buses, classrooms, and all high traffic areas.

Students will also have access to hand sanitizer or be given a chance to wash their hands several times a day.

The school district also will install water bottle fillers at school water fountains so students can have access to clean water without risk. Students can bring water bottles to school for this purpose.

Student meals will likely include some "grab-and-go" format.

The district will also take students' temperatures daily. Those with readings of 100.4 or higher will be sent to the nurse's office and might be sent home. It said if a child has a fever before leaving for school, they should be kept at home.

The district also says an online program is available for those not comfortable with returning to campus.

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Sufjan Stevens Announces First Solo Studio Album in Five Years, ‘The Ascension’ – HYPEBEAST

Posted: at 10:32 am

Sufjan Stevens will be releasing his first proper studio album in five years entitled The Ascension.

Billed as the followup to 2015s Carrie & Lowell, the project is set to release in September 2020. Not a lot of information on The Ascension has been shared, but its been confirmed that the album will include 15 songs, including a 12 minute and 30 second closing track called America that will drop on July 3.

In between Carrie & Lowell and The Ascension, Stevens worked on a number of collaborative albums, such as 2017s Planetarium with Bryce Dessner, Nico Muhly and James McAlister, and March 2020s Aporia with Lowell Brams. He also contributed to the soundtrack of Luca Guadagninos Call Me by Your Name, releasing two new songs and a remix of Visions of Gideon.

Take a look at the complete tracklist below. Sufjan Stevens The Ascension drops September 25.

The Ascension Tracklist01 Make Me An Offer I Cannot Refuse (5:19)02 Run Away With Me (4:07)03 Video Game (4:16)04 Lamentations (3:42)05 Tell Me You Love Me (4:22)06 Die Happy (5:47)07 Ativan (6:32)08 Ursa Major (3:43)09 Landslide (5:04)10 Gilgamesh (3:50)11 Death Star (4:04)12 Goodbye To All That (3:48)13 Sugar (7:37)14 The Ascension (5:56)15 America (12:30)

Elsewhere in music, Injury Reserves Steppa J. Groggs has passed away.

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The Ascension Reveal New Team Name – Cultaholic

Posted: at 10:32 am

The men formerly known as Konnor and Viktor of The Ascension were released from WWE in December 2019. Shortly before the pandemic kicked in, the two resurfaced on the independent scene, and have since revealed new labels for themselves.

The two are now known individually as Big Kon and Vik, and, as Kon revealed to WrestleZone, their team name hasn't changed too much either.

"The Awakening. Its like its the next step up from The Ascension, Kon revealed. Its still got that connection so the fans can understand it and its something that Vik and I think is bad ass regardless.

Kon revealed that he and Vik were originally going to use "FKA" (or, Formerly Known As) for the team name, before deciding on the Awakening name.

"We were going to use FKA for the time being just because we liked that," he added. "We knew everybody just knew us as The Ascension for the longest time, and to jump off [of that], we couldnt really figure it out for a while. Wed been talking back and forth so much, going through all of these other ideas and it kinda got presented to us the other week via interview."

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Various News: The Ascension Reveal Their New Name, Jake Hager Reacts to AEW Suspension – 411mania.com

Posted: at 10:31 am

In an interview with WrestleZone, Big Kon and Vik, formerly The Ascension, revealed that their new name will be The Awakening. They also said that they considered FKA.

We were going to use FKA for the time being just because we liked that. We knew everybody just knew us as The Ascension for the longest time, and to jump off [of that], we couldnt really figure it out for a while, Viktor said. Wed been talking back and forth so much, going through all of these other ideas and it kinda got presented to us the other week via interview do you want to tell him?

The Awakening. Its like its the next step up from The Ascension, Big Kon added. Its still got that connection so the fans can understand it and its something that Vik and I think is badass regardless.

Jake Hager has responded to AEW suspending him for 10 days and fining him for striking an official after his match with Cody Rhodes at AEW Fyter Fest.

BS. Cody was out. It was a blown call made worse by this decision.

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NYC Nurse Thanks Fellow Heroes at Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford – rutherfordsource.com

Posted: at 10:31 am

Trinette Lewis is a New York City nurse who pursued the profession because she loved studying anatomy and physiology and wanted to apply that knowledge in a tangible way. She says that her appreciation for her career has evolved in recent months, explaining: Once the pandemic began, I realized that nursing is more than a profession. Its a calling; its a movement, and its a beautiful expression of love.

Trinette has been working tirelessly on the front lines at Lenox Hill Hospital on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Earlier this month, she had the opportunity to take a much-deserved break to visit her mom in Murfreesboro. Though it would have been understandable if Trinette had used her vacation time to relax, she had something else in mind. I wanted to show appreciation to the nurses at Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford because they have selflessly helped treat my grandmother, brother, and sister over the years, says Trinette. While Im far away in New York City, I am very grateful that I can trust Ascension Saint Thomas to care for my family when they are sick.

Determined to express thanks for Murfreesboros hard-working caregivers, Trinette and her mom delivered glazed donuts, hot coffee, and handmade prayer cards to the nursing staff. Trinette calls her gesture a small token of gratitude for the big ways nurses have helped our nation rise above this pandemic. To the nurses at Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford, however, Trinettes gift was anything but small.

Trinette is now safely back at work in New York City.

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Wowhead Has Released A Preview Of World Of Warcraft: Shadowlands Newest Dungeon, Spires Of Ascension – Happy Gamer

Posted: at 10:31 am

In the march towards the upcomingWorld of Warcraft: Shadowlands expansion, Wowhead has been one of the most prominent outlets of discovering what the newest content to hit the current Shadowlands alpha.

The most recent bit of content to hit the alpha is the newest dungeon, Spires of Ascension. Wowhead has just recently released their datamined boss descriptions and loot tables to help players prepare for what awaits them in the Shadowlands.

Based in Bastion, the heavenly home of the Kyrian covenant, the Spires of Ascension floats high above the surface. Players will take part in a battle high up in the Spires of Ascension as they battle the forces attempting to occupy the dungeon.

Fighting alongside the Kyrian forces, players will fight against four separate bosses, as well as whatever trash lays between. Presently, youll be able to find the entrance to the dungeon ironicallybeneath Elysian Hold, Bastions main city.

The first boss players face off will be Kin-Tara, of whom seems to have several phases and possibly fights with allies, which hasnt been confirmed by datamining. During the fight, players will contest against Kin-Tara, Janari, and Azules, presenting a three-pronged fight to juggle.

Today's #Shadowlands dungeon preview is the Spires of Ascension which is located in the skies of Bastion: #Warcrafthttps://t.co/lQVYIc5wa7 pic.twitter.com/OmATwL3pXk

Wowhead (@Wowhead) July 3, 2020

Second comes Ventunax, a Dark Kyrian construct that fights with incredible speed. Youll need to work to avoid the AoE of Slicing Winds, which can threaten to bring down a party, or at least make life significantly harder for the healer mains.

Ventunax brings speed-based whirlwinds and movement to the fight, allowing her to teleport behind players in a Nothing Personal, Kid manner, inflicting heavy damage and leaving a Shadowhirl. Players will also need to avoid her AoE stuns as well as her damage.

Third, Oryphrion will need to be defeated, a colossus that helps lead the troops players are fighting against. Players will need to keep their positioning in the forefront of their mind to avoid AoE damage and snaring each other with the vanguards attacks.

Finally, players will have to bring down Devos, Paragon of Doubt. An extremely tanky and shield-based boss, Devos will require a huge amount of coordination to not only take down, but also just to stay aloft, as the Slipstream active during the fight can hurl you off the Spires themselves, leading to what seems to be instant death.

With the expansion coming closer and closer, theres no telling what the next addition will be. Those that are doing what they can to prepare for endgame should read up on the coming fights so that they step into the Shadowlands prepared to take down the threats they find.

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Wowhead Has Released A Preview Of World Of Warcraft: Shadowlands Newest Dungeon, Spires Of Ascension - Happy Gamer

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Ascension Schools to host forums about construction bond election – Weekly Citizen

Posted: at 10:31 am

Ascension Public Schools will hold public forums in July about the Aug. 15 school construction bond election. The forums, which are divided by high school feeder system, began in March before the COVID-19 closures moved the election from May 9 to Aug. 15. Parents and employees from all schools plus the general public are encouraged to attend. For those who cannot or do not want toattendin person, a virtual meeting will also be held.

"In the last 10 years, enrollment in our schools has grown on an average of 375 students every year. Enrollment in our three east side high schools alone has increased by 1,566 students -- that is the size of a new high school," said Ascension Public Schools Superintendent David Alexander. "We are fortunate that our community has supported our efforts in the past to buildnew schools and expand existing facilities. The opening of a new primary school last year, and a new primary school and middle school this year will be critical to our ability to serve students in our buildings under the new guidelines this year. A new high school is no longer something that can be done in the future. The future is now!"

WHAT: Public Forums about the August 15th School Construction Bond Election

WHEN & WHERE:

Ascension Parish's dedicated millage for school construction has been in place for 40 years and is the school district's funding source tobuild new schools and renovate existing schools. By extending the existing 15.08 millage, Ascension Parish voters will enable the school system implement $140 million in school improvements and construction projects at no increased rates to taxpayers. The proposed initiative includes a much-needed new high school in Prairieville, a major "make-over" of East Ascension High, upgrades at Gonzales Middle, turf surfacing at all five high school stadiums, upgraded classrooms, and other improvements across the parish.

Parents and interested citizens attended the school system's first public meeting on the bond extension initiative on March 3 at Donaldsonville High School, prior to the COVID-19 school closures. The school board unanimously approved the bond initiative request at a November meeting seeking a May 9 election. The pandemic forced the postponement of the election to August 15. Early voting will be held from July 25 through August 3. Early voting is held at the courthouses in Donaldsonville and Gonzales as well as the Oak Grove Community Center.

For more information about the school millage extension including a complete list of projects, visitwww.apsb.org/2020bond.

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Jack Nicklaus is coming to town and he’s going to play a round with some St. Louis legends – KSDK.com

Posted: at 10:31 am

ST. LOUIS We knew professional golf was headed back to St. Louis this year. But now we know that one of golf's most legendary figures will be here to see it in person.

The Golden Bear is coming to town.

5 On Your Side sports director Frank Cusumano has learned that not only is Jack Nicklaus coming to St. Louis later this year for the Ascension Charity Classic, he's going to hit the course at Norwood Hills with some St. Louis legends.

Nicklaus will be teeing it up with Cardinals Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith, and Blues Hall of Fame forward Brett Hull ahead of the actual tournament.

The Ascension Charity Classic presented by Emerson will be an event on the PGA Tour Champions schedule this Sept. 28 through Oct. 4. It is not yet determined how the COVID-19 pandemic could alter any plans for the tournament.

The tournament will benefit local charities in the St. Louis area, and all three official rounds will be broadcast on the Golf Channel.

Nicklaus, now 80 years old, has won the most majors in golf history (18) and is widely considered the greatest golfer of all time.

Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer for Ascension Nick Ragone said that when Jack Nicklaus shows up at your tournament, you know it's a big event.

"We're really excited. The way the community has rallied and we're really, really excited that Jack Nicklaus, arguably the greatest golfer of all time, one of the great sportsmen of all time is going to be a part of the inaugural Ascension Charity Classic presented by Emerson," Ragone said.

"We're still working on the final plans, but he'll be there. He'll be at the tournament that week. And we're going to have a kind of a legends, or a celebrity,shoot out or match similar to what Tiger and Phil did with Peyton and and Tom Brady earlier this year with Jack and some of the other great legends of the game, and even some major sports celebrities from this market. So we are are thrilled that Jack would be a part of it."

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Experts with Ascension St. Vincent give firework safety tips – Fox 59

Posted: at 10:31 am

INDIANAPOLIS- Firework sales are on the rise this year, and Marion County 911 has already seen a 700% increase in fireworks-related calls, still days away from the 4th of July.

With organized shows canceled, sales for home-based fireworks are skyrocketing, as people are ready to celebrate.

We got a little stuff for the kids. Got some tanks, roosters, bottle rockets, some stuff to set off in the backyard, Joshua Garrett said as he and his family walked out of Jays Fireworks on the north side.

He says the usual set off a display every 4th of July.

We try to be good neighbors and keep the fireworks around the 4th of July, so we usually focus on that point and set off a big show in the neighborhood, Garrett said. Which is more important this year with all the events being canceled.

Fireworks stores like Phantom Fireworks say items are flying off the shelves. Marion County 911 is expecting 3,000 calls on the 4th of July alone. With those rising numbers, emergency rooms are preparing too.

With more people doing home-based fireworks displays, its not unreasonable to think there would be more injuries associated with those fireworks, said Dr. Ian Ferries, a trauma surgeon with Ascension St. Vincent.

Dr. Ferries with Ascension St Vincent sees fireworks injuries every year around the 4th of July, having serious and long-lasting effects.

Youre literally playing with fire when youre using these fireworks, Dr. Ferries said. Most of the injuries come to the hands and fingers, the arms those generally account for almost half of the injuries that are sustained.

Dr. Ferries says nearly half of those patients are under 20 years old, and a third are under 15. Its important for parents to run the show at home.

Oftentimes its kids who are most likely to injure themselves with fireworks, so have somebody whos experienced and responsible be the one whos lighting the fireworks.

While Garrets kids enjoy the show, he says they make sure someone older runs it.

No kids touching anything, we essentially create a zone where they cant go in when were lighting things off, Garrett said. Theyve got to respect them otherwise they can do some pretty bad harm.

Experts at Ascension St. Vincent and the Consumer Product Safety Commissionrecommend the following safety tips:

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Can India’s rationalists stop the total eclipse of reason? – Livemint

Posted: at 10:29 am

While others look upon an eclipse as a catastrophe and disaster waiting to strike, we rationalists look upon it as a natural occurrence to be viewed and enjoyed," Narendra Nayak, president of the Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations (Fira) and managing trustee of Aid Without Religion Trust, wrote in a press release circulated ahead of the event. Similar plans are afoot for 5 July, when a lunar eclipse is set to occurfollowing the solar eclipse on 21 June and another lunar eclipse on 5 June.

At a time when the public is consumed by fear, panic and misinformation regarding the covid-19 pandemic, with many clutching at the straws of superstition and rituals, defiant gestures as such these send out a strong message.

For years, the 90-odd rationalists associations across India affiliated to Fira have publicly denounced the belief that some activities are harmful to undertake during eclipses. Debunking myths about eclipses is one of the many activities that are part of their mission. The rationalists have shown up miracles" performed by godmen to be bogus; they have explained supernatural" phenomena using scientific principles; and, in general, tried to inculcate a rational temper among ordinary people.

Not surprisingly, the tireless crusade of the rationalists against blind faith has met with violent opposition from lobbies that have felt threatened by their sobering influence. In the last seven years alone, four activists and rationalistsNarendra Dabholkar and Govind Pansare from Maharashtra, M.M. Kalburgi and Gauri Lankesh from Karnatakahave been murdered openly. Nayak, who is often called the macho man of rationalism" and a one-man institution", has narrowly escaped multiple attempts on his life. Currently, he lives under police protection at his home in Mangaluru.

Its not all doom and gloom, though. The rationalists efforts have also brought about slow change in the social fabric. In December, a samosa-eating party was organized in a village in Goa where an enthusiastic crowd of 100-150, mostly youngsters, came together to view a solar eclipse, following safety protocols. Until a few years ago, there was much more reluctance to participate in such gatherings," says R.G. Rao, president of the Goa chapter of Fira. Even college and school teachers used to take the day off and stay homesome of them still dobecause thats what tradition demands."

Now, while the elderly remain hesitant about crossing the line, the youth are open to taking bolder strides. I have friends employed in high places who agree with me that theres no rational basis to their beliefs," Rao adds. But such is their conditioning since childhood that they feel guilty if they dont follow rituals dictated by tradition." Education is no guarantee of a rationalist mindset. People can be literate in physics, chemistry and medicine without being truly educated," as Nayak tersely puts it.

Faith versus fact

As early as the 17th century, European astronomers understood eclipses to be natural phenomena and explained their occurrence scientifically. But the primal fear of these occurrences goes back to millennia and is alive and kicking in the 21st century. In Hindu astrology, Rahu, a fearsome demon, is believed to swallow celestial bodies, casting a pall of darkness over the world. Eating during an eclipse, it was believed (especially in the pre-electricity era), was inauspicious. Women were told not to cook or chop vegetables. Pregnant women were asked to stay indoors. A miasma of myths accrued gradually.

What I have found is that more often than not these rituals are rooted in scientific reasoning. Over time, unfortunately, the reasoning is forgotten and what is left is only a ritual practice," says Simran Lal, CEO of Good Earth and Co-founder of Nicobar. For example, the belief that you should not look at an eclipse is actually backed by sciencelooking at an eclipse without the eye-aids that modern science has only now made possible can lead to irreversible damage to the eyes, including loss of vision."

But to hold on to these myths in the 21st century, with the hindsight of science and technological progress, is unwarranted. The hype over the latest triple eclipse, for instance, is largely unfounded. Contrary to the belief that such series of eclipses occur after hundreds of years, the phenomenon was observed as recently as in 2018 and 2013.

As a rationalist, Rao says he walks the talk. When he addresses the public, he carries a photograph of his 22-year-old daughter to show the audience. I tell them that my wife chopped vegetables, cooked, ate, stepped outside, looked at the sun and moon during eclipses with adequate protection while she was pregnant. There is nothing wrong with our daughter. People are welcome to medically test her if they like," he says.

But during an unfolding pandemic, injecting such a scientific temper into the public can be tougher than usual. With no vaccine or reliable cure against covid-19, people are understandably desperate for whatever glimmer of hope they can find.

In the early days of the pandemic, many Indians who were stuck overseas reached out to us," says Shivani Hariharan, co-founder and head of the Mumbai chapter of The Ochre Tree, a brand that is dedicated to energy healing, meditation, spirituality and other self-development programmes". Our focus was to remove their fear psychosis, which was causing stress and anxiety in them," she adds. The clients who already had covid-19 reported an improvement in their conditions after a few sessions of healing, alongside medical treatment, Hariharan says. Their recovery time was quicker than expected.

The link between stress and a compromised immune system is an established fact. But seeking relief in cures that are not clinically proven, or have no sound scientific basis, can be a tricky business. Since the early days of the lockdown, Indias political classes have offered a range of placebos to people. Drinking cow urine, chanting Go, corona, go" in public, violating physical distancing, taking the names of favourite deities for half an hour at homethe list goes on. The latest entrant into this fast-growing club of such cures is Coronil, an alleged panacea promoted by Baba Ramdev.

This explosion of false cures and beliefs is symptomatic of the times. Superstitions have a way of flaring up when people are at their most fragile, mentally. Since 95% of those affected by covid-19 recover on their own, it is easy to make wild claims about the efficacy of drugs that havent undergone clinical trial," Nayak says. By applying their research on patients with no co-morbidities, these quacks are bound to get successful results. But who wants treatments for mild and moderate cases? I am much more interested in the effect of these treatments on the 5% who dont recover on their own."

The steady 5%

It is not just the ignorant" or uneducated" sections that are vulnerable to pseudo-science. When politicians and other influential people make unsubstantiated claims, they create a panic situation among the masses," says Sudesh Ghoderao, secretary of national and international coordination at the Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (Mans), founded in 1989 by Dabholkar. For over three decades, Mans has been running campaigns across Maharashtra using slogans, posters, workshops and social media to counter myths and superstition. At present, with physical distancing norms in force, its modus operandi has shifted to webinars to train volunteers.

Ghoderao is also cognizant of the mental health costs of living through a pandemic. He admits that daily stressors may push people into seeking relief in unscientific beliefs. Mans has been working with a collective of mental health workers called Manasmitra, which is providing counselling and mental healthcare support across rural Maharashtra during the pandemic," he says. In Goa, too, a major target audience for the rationalists is the rural population, especially women. If we can educate one woman, she can pass on the knowledge to many others," says Rao.

For all the dangers they have faced over the decades, the rationalists have succeeded in bringing about tangible legal changes through their campaigns. The Maharashtra Protection of People from Social Boycott (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2016, which was passed after years of activism by Mans, has proved especially useful during the pandemic in protecting health and sanitation workers from social ostracization. Mans volunteers are helping victims to file police complaints and also alert the police about violations of the law.

About 85% of the people we address during our campaigns appear convinced by our arguments but a majority of them revert to their old beliefs the moment they leave the meeting," says Nayak. They cite personal majboori (compulsions) as being inimical to altering their ways, he explains. Our target is the steady 5%, who hold on to our ideas and dont change their minds."

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