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Monday, August 31, 2020

Detroit remembers COVID-19 victims with stunning public park tribute

More than 1,500 residents in Detroit have died due to COVID-19 in the past few months

The over 1,500 COVID-19 victims in Detroit who have lost their lives to the virus were honored in a day-long memorial at Belle Isle.

According to The Detroit News, Monday, thousands of residents drove into the island Park off Jefferson to view a public display of 907 billboard-sized posters of loved locals and first responders who passed away between March and Aug. 18.

coronavirus COVID 19 thegrio.com
TAMPA, FL – AUGUST 12: Marlon Warren, a mortician assistant prepares a funeral service for a man who died of COVID-19 at Ray Williams Funeral Home on August 12, 2020 (Photo by Octavio Jones/Getty Images)

READ MORE: Detroit Lions cancel football practice in protest of Jacob Blake shooting

Among those being honored was Frances Bazel, a widely loved “community mother” who over the years took in 10 foster children. According to her granddaughter, Ericka Murria, she died April 4 from COVID-19, all alone.

“We got a call in the middle of the night that she couldn’t breathe,” recalled Murria, 37, whose family thought the matriarch would be safe from the virus while undergoing rehabilitation at a Detroit nursing home. “It continued to spiral downward. COVID attacked her major organs, pneumonia came about, and she went into a coma.”

READ MORE: Segregated parks contribute to coronavirus spread in Black, Latino communities: report

Unfortunately, due to health mandates, the family wasn’t able to see Bazel or sit by her bedside as she took her last breath.

“I could not fight for her when she could not fight for herself,” a distraught Murria added tearfully. 

As Murria and her family approached the billboard put up in honor of her grandmother, Bill Withers‘ “Ain’t No Sunshine” began to play on the blues music station they had tuned into on the radio.

“It’s almost like we saw her,” she said. “I know I couldn’t hide my tears after that.”

“This city was hit harder than most. We took it seriously together, as partners,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Monday.

She and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist joined Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan to kick off the memorial day with remarks near the bridge entrance at Jefferson and East Grand Boulevard.

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I Was a Floating Head at an NBA Game. It Gets Weirder

Crowds of spectral, legless virtual fans are part of the league's stab at preserving the ambiance of pre-pandemic basketball. I took a seat.

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Apple Accidentally Approved Malware to Run on MacOS

The ubiquitous Shlayer adware has picked up a new trick, slipping past Cupertino's “notarization” defenses for the first time.

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Bruce Grobbelaar: 'I'm too honest to get work in South Africa'

Former Liverpool and Zimbabwe keeper Bruce Grobbelaar believes he is too honest to get another coaching job in South Africa.

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Americans Have Saved Nearly $91 Billion From Working From Home, Report Says

zoom video conference

Since the spread of COVID-19, or the novel coronavirus, in the United States, many companies have been forced to close their offices to prevent the transmission of the virus among their workforce. The change has completely reshaped corporate cultures as more companies plan on working from home until 2021. Now, a new study shows that not driving to work has saved Americans close to $91 billion.

The study, done by economist Adam Ozimek of Upwork, explores shifts in corporate structures and workers since the COVID-19 pandemic started. “Since the onset of COVID-19 and the massive shift to remote work, however, many are considering life without a commute,” Ozimek wrote in the study.

“To understand the impact of remote work on commutes, we surveyed 1,000 people currently working from home to see how much time they are saving sans commute. Of this group, 31.4% are working from home due to COVID and 15% were working from home prior to COVID.” The data shows that the average American worker saved $2,000 each from trading in their commute for a home office.

“Of the COVID remote workers, 86% report having previously commuted by car and are now saving, on average, 46.3 minutes per day,” he adds. “Altogether, we estimate that those post-COVID remote workers are saving 32.9 million hours of car commuting per day.”

The reduction in commuting has correlated with an increase in productivity, which is part of why many companies like Twitter plan to permanently stay remote. 

It also has an economic effect: The study estimates that for every day of the pandemic, $183 million was saved in fuel plus the costs of car maintenance and repairs; $164 million in costs associated with pollution, congestion, and accidents; and $411 million as the value of time saved. That’s $758 million a day saved by workers who used to drive to the office, or more than $90 billion since mid-March for those car commuters now working from home.

Despite the savings, cities are hurting from the shift in the area of public transportation that has seen a sharp drop since the pandemic started and social distancing was implemented. In New York City, the MTA announced that they need $12 billion in aid from the federal government or they will have to reduce their operation by 40% to 50% by the end of the year.

“Expenses cannot be reduced quickly and significantly enough to offset the 40% reduction in revenue we have experienced and are expecting,” the MTA said in a statement, according to The Hill.



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The Haunting of Bly Manor | Teaser Trailer | Netflix
The Haunting of Bly Manor is the follow-up to 2018's The Haunting of Hill House. Arriving October 9th, this new chapter in the Haunting anthology series revolves around Bly Manor and the lives of its inhabitants, both living and dead. The Haunting of Bly Manor stars Victoria Pedretti, Henry Thomas, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Kate Siegel, T'Nia Miller, Rahul Kohli, Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, Amelie Smith and Amelia Eve. SUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/29qBUt7 About Netflix: Netflix is the world's leading streaming entertainment service with 193 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, documentaries and feature films across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on any internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments. The Haunting of Bly Manor | Teaser Trailer | Netflix https://youtube.com/Netflix


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Winston Duke, Phylicia Rashad remember Chadwick Boseman during ABC special

Cast members from the Marvel Cinematic Universe films joined host Robin Roberts in showering praise on the “Black Panther” star after a commercial-free airing.

Chadwick Boseman: A Tribute For a King aired last night following the commercial-free debut of Black Panther on ABC.

Airing just two days after the family of the 43-year-old actor announced his passing, the special featured appearances by cast members from the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies. Don Cheadle, Forest Whitaker and Winston Duke all offered messages about what made Boseman an iconic actor.

Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg also appeared.

Read More: Chadwick Boseman’s final post the most liked tweet ever, Twitter announces

Actor Robert Downey, Jr., who played Iron Man, said that he reached out to Boseman after the police killing of George Floyd. Downey referred to the slaying as a “murder,” saying that Boseman helped him “reframe” the incident.

Downey said that “Black Panther was hands-down the crowning achievement of the Marvel Universe.” He said that the film was one where “people got to vote with ticket sales.” He said that the movie “leveled the playing field.”

Sen. Kamala Harris, the Democratic vice-presidential nominee, said that Boseman’s last tweet, which celebrated her nomination, “encouraged citizens to exercise their right to vote.” Opined Harris: “It is so reflective of Chadwick.”

Read More: Chadwick Boseman’s family confirms he and Taylor Simone Ledward married before his death

Phylicia Rashad recalled her time as a teacher at Howard University when Boseman attended the HBCU. “I received a call from one of the students in the class who said, ‘Ms. Rashad, we wanted you to know we auditioned for the British Academy of Dramatic Arts’ mid-summer program, and we got in.’ I said, ‘That’s great,’ and they said, ‘But we’re not going to go because it’s too expensive.’”

Rashad told the students to pack their bags.

“I made a phone call to a friend of mine,” she continued, “and he called me back, and we talked about it for about five minutes. And he said, ‘Okay, I got this money.’”

Read More: Danai Gurira: Chadwick Boseman was exactly like Black Panther

That friend was Denzel Washington.

Boseman thanked Washington during a June 2019 tribute to the Oscar-winner by the American Film Institute, telling everyone assembled: “There is no Black Panther without Denzel Washington.”

The special’s host, “Good Morning, America’s” Robin Roberts — herself a cancer survivor — said that it was “generous” of Boseman to visit children who were suffering from cancer while, unknown to others, he was also battling the disease.

Have you subscribed to theGrio’s “Dear Culture” podcast? Download our newest episodes now!

The post Winston Duke, Phylicia Rashad remember Chadwick Boseman during ABC special appeared first on TheGrio.



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Maryland state official fired after sharing posts supporting alleged Kenosha shooter

One meme read, “Don’t be a thug if you can’t take a slug!” Another appeared to show an image of the alleged shooting by Kyle Rittenhouse.

A Maryland man who had been the deputy director of the Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives has been fired from his job for sharing posts supporting alleged Kenosha shooter Kyle Rittenhouse

Arthur (Mac) Love IV posted several memes that supported the shooting. One read, “Don’t be a thug if you can’t take a slug!” Another appeared to show an image of the shooting with a caption that read, “When you get to 2nd place in Wisconsin’s annual quick draw competition.” 

Love was let go Saturday afternoon. 

Read More: Trump to visit Kenosha Tuesday, potentially stoking tensions

“These divisive images and statements are inconsistent with the mission and core values of the Office of Community Initiatives,” said Steven J. McAdams. “Earlier today, I relieved this employee of his duties. Kevin Craft, administrative director of the Governor’s Commission on African Affairs, will assume these duties effective immediately.”

McAdams is the executive director of the Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives. 

Read More: Kenosha police chief says officers did nothing wrong by ignoring Kyle Rittenhouse

A spokesperson for Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan released a statement supporting the firing. “These posts are obviously totally inappropriate,” she said. “We fully support the immediate actions taken by Director McAdams to address this matter.”

Maryland Matters reported that Love is a “seasoned Republican” who had been posting images supporting the shooting for days. Another image featured a photo of actor Leonardo DiCaprio raising a glass of champagne in the 2013 film, The Great Gatsby, captioned: “When you see a skateboard wielding Antifa chickens*** get smoked by an AR toting 17-yr-old.”

Read More: Christian site raises over $97K for Kenosha shooting suspect Kyle Rittenhouse

Darryl Barnes, the chairman of Maryland’s Legislative Black Caucus, said that Love’s posts were disturbing. “There’s no sense for it,” Barnes said. “There’s no reason someone like this should be part of our state government.”

Rittenhouse, the accused Kenosha assailant, shot three people Tuesday, killing two, during protests about the Aug. 23 shooting of Jacob Blake by Officer Rusten Sheskey. Rittenhouse, who is being portrayed as a right-wing hero, is currently facing felony murder charges. 

Have you subscribed to theGrio’s “Dear Culture” podcast? Download our newest episodes now!

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With Safety A Top Concern, 60% Of U.S. Companies Requiring Face Masks As Employees Return To Work

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Face masks could become standard as people go back to work. Masks will be part of the employee dress code at 60% of U.S companies as offices reopen, a new Clutch survey shows.

Along with the masks, the post-COVID-19 office also will likely feature socially distant seating arrangements (71%) and sanitation stations installed throughout the space (60%). The key is that requiring face masks will be a necessary first step for companies beginning to reopen offices, Clutch concluded.

A ratings and review firm, Clutch’s 2020 Return to Work Survey included 400 U.S. workers.

What shocked Clutch Editorial Manager Shelby Jordan most about the survey findings was that a lot of news coverage framed mask requirements as somewhat of a polarizing topic, but “our data showed strong support. With 60% of companies planning to require masks in the office, and nearly a third of employees ranking them as a top priority, face masks seem more widely supported than I’d expected.”

Some  82% of the U.S. workforce expects its company to apply careful measures before asking employees to return. From socially distant seating to childcare and transportation accommodations, companies are demonstrating a commitment to safety, given employee health is linked to performance.

The survey also asked if people even want to return to work. About 20% want to return as soon as possible, but 28% are hesitant to go back right away and hoping to wait until September or next year. Some 15% of workers don’t want to return to an office at all, while 39% have already returned.

Avoiding the spread of COVID-19 appears to be top of mind for workers and employers, an expanded Clutch survey shows. For many people, safety is the top concern. And remote work works for some but not others. For working parents, it may be difficult to focus with kids in the house. Some employees may feel more productive out of the office, yet others find it more distracting. Working from home also lends itself to additional flexibility but can prove more challenging for a stable work-life balance.

The encouraging news is 9 out of 10 companies are already taking steps to create a safe environment for employees. Clutch found that 91% of employers have implemented at least one of the precautionary measures. The top three most common measures are: social distance mandates (71%), face covering requirements (60%), and improved hygiene practices (60%).



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Trump, Portland mayor blame each other for violence after protester shot

Their war of words followed Saturday’s shooting death of a man identified as a member of a right-wing group called Patriot Prayer.

President Donald Trump called Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler a fool on Twitter, demanding that he end the violence that left a right-wing protester dead in Oregon’s largest city. 

During a press conference Sunday afternoon, Wheeler spoke directly to the president. “That’s classic Trump. Mr. President, how can you think that a comment like that, if you’re watching this, is in any way helpful?” 

Read More: Trump to visit Kenosha Tuesday, potentially stoking tensions

“It’s an aggressive stance, it is not collaborative,” he continued. “I certainly reached out, I believe in a collaborative manner, by saying earlier that you need to do your part, and I need to do my part, and then we both need to be held accountable.”

“Do you seriously wonder, Mr. President, why this is the first time in decades that America has seen this level of violence?” Wheeler asked. “It’s you who have created the hate and the division.”

Read More: Filmmaker Michael Moore warns of 2016 redux, says Trump support is ‘OFF THE CHARTS’

“It’s you who have not found a way to say the names of Black people killed by police officers, even as people in law enforcement have,” the mayor added. “And it’s you who claimed that white supremacists are good people.” 

“You’ve tried to divide us more than any other figure in modern history, and now, you want me to stop the violence that you helped to create,” Wheeler continued. “What America needs is for you to be stopped so that we can come back together as one America.”

The mayor said that all people must pull together to stop racism and violence. 

Read More: Biden campaign buys ‘Keep America Great’ domain to troll Trump

Trump, characteristically, responded almost immediately, calling Wheeler a “wacky Radical Left Do Nothing Democrat Mayor of Portland, who has watched great death and destruction of his City during his tenure.” 

The war of words followed the shooting death Saturday of a man identified as Aaron “Jay” Danielson, a member of a right-wing group called Patriot Prayer. Trump tweeted “Rest in Peace, Jay!” retweeting an image of the man’s body on the ground. 

The president did not tweet condolences to the two men shot and killed by 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse last week in Wisconsin. 

Have you subscribed to theGrio’s podcast “Dear Culture”? Download our newest episodes now!

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Chadwick Boseman’s final post the most liked tweet ever, Twitter announces

The post about the actor’s passing nabbed over 7 million likes, a record previously held by President Barack Obama.

The tweet announcing the death of beloved actor Chadwick Boseman has become the most liked Tweet ever. 

The announcement was tweeted by Twitter’s official account calling the act “a tribute fit for a King.” The social media giant retweeted Boseman’s post with the hashtag #WakandaForever. 

Read More: Danai Gurira: Chadwick Boseman was exactly like Black Panther

The original tweet was posted on Friday evening. It was a black and white image of the iconic actor and his family’s announcement of his passing. As of Monday morning, the tweet has more than 7 million likes. 

Taylor Simone Ledward and Chadwick Boseman attend the 25th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 27, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sarah Morris/Getty Images)

Oprah Winfrey shared the tweet, calling Boseman “a gentle gifted SOUL.” She saluted the actor, saying he showed “us all that Greatness in between surgeries and chemo. The courage, the strength, the Power it takes to do that. This is what Dignity looks like.” 

Read More: ‘Black Panther’ director, Ryan Coogler writes touching tribute to Chadwick Boseman

Boseman was also saluted by Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris. The Howard alumna wrote, “Heartbroken. My friend and fellow Bison Chadwick Boseman was brilliant, kind, learned, and humble. He left too early but his life made a difference. Sending my sincere condolences to his family.”

Before the tweet announcing his passing, Boseman’s last tweet was the support of Harris being nominated for vice president. “YES,” he wrote, “@KamalaHarris! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 #WhenWeAllVote #Vote2020.” 

Read More: Chadwick Boseman’s family confirms he and Taylor Simone Ledward married before his death

Former President Barack Obama held the previous record for Twitter’s most-liked tweet for an August 2017 picture quoting South African great Nelson Mandela that got over 4.3 million likes. Obama saluted Boseman in a tweet, saying, “You could tell right away that he was blessed. To be young, gifted, and Black; to use that power to give them heroes to look up to; to do it all while in pain – what a use of his years.”

Disney Chairman Robert A. Iger, in a lengthy statement about Boseman’s passing, called him “an extraordinary talent.” Iger said he “brought enormous strength, dignity, and depth to his groundbreaking role of Black Panther; shattering myths and stereotypes, becoming a long-awaited hero to millions around the world, and inspiring us all to dream bigger and demand more than the status quo.”

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T-Mobile and Sprint Merger FAQ: What You Need to Know (2020)

If you’re a Sprint or T-Mobile subscriber, you may have a lot of questions now that the two wireless carriers have merged. And what's happening with Dish and Boost? We have answers.

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The Pheromonophone Lets You Reach Out and Smell Someone

The prankish device is the subject of a new audiobook that pokes serious fun at Silicon Valley’s culture of disruption. We spoke with its inventor.

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Paul Rusesabagina: Hotel Rwanda film hero arrested

Paul Rusesabagina's efforts to save people during the Rwanda genocide were depicted in a film.

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Loft & Bear Carves Out Niche as History-Making, Artisanal Black Vodka Brand

Loft & Bear

Loft & Bear is the brainchild of Paul Ryan Elliott, an East coast native and one of few Black distillery owners in the country. Elliott learned the art of distilling when his family’s construction company fell on hard times. While unemployed and living in Silver Spring, Maryland, Elliott was faced with the decision to go back to school or continue with his distilling hobby. After careful deliberation, he decided to put his business school plans on hold and instead devoted several years to focused business planning.

During the summer of 2014, in a loft in downtown Los Angeles, Loft & Bear artisanal vodka was born—hence, the name. A notable part of wine and spirits history, Loft & Bear distillery is the second-ever to be located within Los Angeles city limits since the “noble experiment” called Prohibition.

Today Elliott continues to work toward fulfilling long-term, sustainable success and is encouraged by the opportunity to bring inclusivity and diversity of thought to the beverage alcohol industry. Loft & Bear’s commitment to social awareness is seen in its “Distill.Drink.Donate” program, in which 5% of Loft & Bear profits are donated to PATH, a charity aimed at ending homelessness and providing support for distressed families, veterans affairs, and human services throughout Southern California.

Not surprisingly, Elliott and his award-winning vodka have been featured by numerous major media outlets including Wine Enthusiast (40 Under 40), the Los Angeles Times, US Weekly, and more.

BLACK ENTERPRISE sat down with Elliott to discuss the finer details of his artisanal vodka brand and the nuances of his entrepreneurial journey.

Tell us about your vodka and what distinguishes it as a premium, artisanal brand.

Is it too corny to say it is crafted with love? It’s definitely been a labor of love. My desire for developing Loft & Bear was to create a spirit that was approachable, “easy on the eyes and palate” in terms of its flavor profile and ethos. I’ve been fortunate enough to share my personal creativity with the world as our vodka expression: Loft & Bear. We’ve been characterized as smooth, subtle but sweet, and a hands-down favorite for developing cocktails. I found early on that the softer the wheat grains, the more balanced and gentle the mouthfeel. As cocktails generally constitute an element of citrus, we feel the slight alkalinity of our water base is not only more healthy, but also balances out citrus cocktails quite nicely.

What was the most significant challenge you faced as a Black founder in this industry?

I’ve been blessed with tremendous support since Loft & Bear’s inception. As the industry expands and increasing value is placed on diverse consumers, I’m excited to see the growth in equity and ownership amongst Black founders. I believe we currently represent less than 2% of the brand owners within the alcoholic beverage space. In an industry dominated by major market players, my biggest hurdle since day one has always been accessible, consistent capital. While this has been an ongoing challenge for my team, it also presents a great opportunity for up-and-coming Black and minority founders with moon-sized visions of changing the space. I’m likewise encouraged to see more interest and opportunities for Black founders to execute their visions via new initiatives with Constellation and Uncle Nearest, for example. To achieve larger-than-life goals requires collaboration with strong partners and mentors, as well as a departure from some of the traditional industry norms.

Loft & Bear Distillery in Los Angeles (Photo Credit: Caroline on Crack)

Where do you see your brand in the next five-10 years?

Bigger, better, stronger, wiser! As we grow our core spirit selection and continue to innovate around experiences for our customers, one area that we see ourselves owning is the high-end RTD [ready to drink] segment. These products deliver high-quality, convenient, and unique experiences to consumers. In what we internally refer to as the “full-circle” consumer, we’re confident that our products and broader goal to enhance the beverage alcohol experience through innovation and diversity of thought will shine through.

Where can fellow vodka enthusiasts find your delectable wares?

The boutique culinary scene is responsible for much of Loft & Bear’s success and early adoption. We often find shared values with these establishments in terms of curating an amazing customer experience and building a sense of community. We’re currently growing our national distribution footprint within the U.S. and are currently available at regional retail chains such as BevMo, Raley’s, ABC, Bristol Farms, Pavilions, Cost Plus, and others. We also invite clients to shop online via our website to discover distribution partners that deliver to multiple states within the U.S. as well.

(Image: Loft & Bear vodka/File)

You’ve listed a number of fascinating signature cocktails on your website, each of which uses fresh, native Bahamian ingredients to set it off. What are some delicious traditional pairings you can share with us?

•Conch Salad + Sky Full of Stars (L&B vodka-based twist on a local classic made from sweetened condensed milk)*

•Caribbean Lobster + Rose Mango Smash (Mango)*

•Boiled Fish + Lemongrass Switcha (Lemongrass)*

•Jerk Chicken + In Exile (Smoked Pineapple)*

*Signature Bahamian ingredient

‘Mixology in motion’ (Image: Courtesy of Loft & Bear)

 

What is your best advice for someone set on breaking into this industry?

There’s a funny saying, “If you hang around the barbershop enough, you’re bound to get a haircut.” Is it possible that breaking into the industry is just as simple as that—submerging yourself in the business and beginning to ask the right questions? I believe this is where you begin to identify the evolving needs of consumers and customer pain points. That very attentiveness could be the key to unique value creation for those looking to break into the industry. There’s something alluring about an unforgettable imbibing experience; these amazing moments with friends and family are what could give birth to unique opportunities to have a positive effect on the industry. Improve every day and learn the business, then you have a genuine shot at doing something great!

What is your big picture vision for adding value, beyond your excellent contributions to the wine and spirits industry?

By leveraging the strength of our brand, which is supported by our core values, we have a unique opportunity to influence large-scale social change and become the voice of a generation destined to shape the future.

What do you want people to know most about your vodka?

We’ve been referenced as a “whiskey drinker’s vodka.” We believe in our artisanal quality and craftsmanship, which boasts a flavor built for sipping. Our bear is a symbol of strength; a passion for making a stronger tomorrow. As a society, we pride ourselves on the concept of building a better future and that is at the core of Loft & Bear’s values. This is a labor of love that everyone deserves to experience firsthand, so we invite vodka drinkers everywhere to sip and enjoy this phenomenal journey with us. Cheers!



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Should Google’s Ad Market Be Regulated Like the Stock Market?

A leading antitrust scholar says yes. Congress may be listening.

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How Cryptography Lets Down Marginalized Communities

Speaking at a prestigious crypto conference this month, Seny Kamara called on the field to recognize its blind spots—and fix them.

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Sunday, August 30, 2020

Robot takes contact-free measurements of patients’ vital signs

The research described in this article has been published on a preprint server but has not yet been peer-reviewed by scientific or medical experts.

During the current coronavirus pandemic, one of the riskiest parts of a health care worker’s job is assessing people who have symptoms of Covid-19. Researchers from MIT and Brigham and Women’s Hospital hope to reduce that risk by using robots to remotely measure patients’ vital signs.

The robots, which are controlled by a handheld device, can also carry a tablet that allows doctors to ask patients about their symptoms without being in the same room.

“In robotics, one of our goals is to use automation and robotic technology to remove people from dangerous jobs,” says Henwei Huang, an MIT postdoc. “We thought it should be possible for us to use a robot to remove the health care worker from the risk of directly exposing themselves to the patient.”

Using four cameras mounted on a dog-like robot developed by Boston Dynamics, the researchers have shown that they can measure skin temperature, breathing rate, pulse rate, and blood oxygen saturation in healthy patients, from a distance of 2 meters. They are now making plans to test it in patients with Covid-19 symptoms.

“We are thrilled to have forged this industry-academia partnership in which scientists with engineering and robotics expertise worked with clinical teams at the hospital to bring sophisticated technologies to the bedside,” says Giovanni Traverso, an MIT assistant professor of mechanical engineering, a gastroenterologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and the senior author of the study.

The researchers have posted a paper on their system on the preprint server techRxiv, and have submitted it to a peer-reviewed journal. Huang is one of the lead authors of the study, along with Peter Chai, an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Claas Ehmke, a visiting scholar from ETH Zurich.

Measuring vital signs

When Covid-19 cases began surging in Boston in March, many hospitals, including Brigham and Women’s, set up triage tents outside their emergency departments to evaluate people with Covid-19 symptoms. One major component of this initial evaluation is measuring vital signs, including body temperature.

The MIT and BWH researchers came up with the idea to use robotics to enable contactless monitoring of vital signs, to allow health care workers to minimize their exposure to potentially infectious patients. They decided to use existing computer vision technologies that can measure temperature, breathing rate, pulse, and blood oxygen saturation, and worked to make them mobile.

To achieve that, they used a robot known as Spot, which can walk on four legs, similarly to a dog. Health care workers can maneuver the robot to wherever patients are sitting, using a handheld controller. The researchers mounted four different cameras onto the robot — an infrared camera plus three monochrome cameras that filter different wavelengths of light.

The researchers developed algorithms that allow them to use the infrared camera to measure both elevated skin temperature and breathing rate. For body temperature, the camera measures skin temperature on the face, and the algorithm correlates that temperature with core body temperature. The algorithm also takes into account the ambient temperature and the distance between the camera and the patient, so that measurements can be taken from different distances, under different weather conditions, and still be accurate.

Measurements from the infrared camera can also be used to calculate the patient’s breathing rate. As the patient breathes in and out, wearing a mask, their breath changes the temperature of the mask. Measuring this temperature change allows the researchers to calculate how rapidly the patient is breathing.

The three monochrome cameras each filter a different wavelength of light — 670, 810, and 880 nanometers. These wavelengths allow the researchers to measure the slight color changes that result when hemoglobin in blood cells binds to oxygen and flows through blood vessels. The researchers’ algorithm uses these measurements to calculate both pulse rate and blood oxygen saturation.

“We didn’t really develop new technology to do the measurements,” Huang says. “What we did is integrate them together very specifically for the Covid application, to analyze different vital signs at the same time.”

Continuous monitoring

In this study, the researchers performed the measurements on healthy volunteers, and they are now making plans to test their robotic approach in people who are showing symptoms of Covid-19, in a hospital emergency department.

While in the near term, the researchers plan to focus on triage applications, in the longer term, they envision that the robots could be deployed in patients’ hospital rooms. This would allow the robots to continuously monitor patients and also allow doctors to check on them, via tablet, without having to enter the room. Both applications would require approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The research was funded by the MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Karl van Tassel (1925) Career Development Professorship.



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Kentucky Attorney General says new report on Breonna Taylor is inconclusive

Taylor’s family is expecting Cameron’s investigation to come to a conclusion soon.

Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron says that his department now has a full report about the guns and shots fired in Breonna Taylor’s apartment, although the new information still leaves the case inconclusive.

In an interview with CBS’s “Face the Nation” on Sunday, Cameron said he had waited weeks for an FBI ballistics report. However, he still needs more information to file charges against the officers who killed her.

READ MORE: Kentucky AG name-drops Breonna Taylor in RNC speech

“Cameron made it seem like he was still a ways away from coming to any sort of conclusion,” according to TMZ. “He says he still needs to meet with the FBI to review the report, on top of going through further witness testimony and other analysis … with no clear end in sight.”

Cameron and his team will be meeting with the FBI next week to review the evidence and it is possible that once these meetings conclude, there will be a definite answer regarding the case.

Ben Crump, the attorney representing Taylor’s family, said the ballistics report is favorable news to their case, and he is expecting Cameron’s investigation to come to a conclusion soon.

READ MORE: Kentucky AG dismisses reports of pending decision in Breonna Taylor killing

Cameron said he wanted to be thorough in his investigation before making any announcement on possible charges. After a meeting with the Cameron, the Taylor family told TMZ that they believe Cameron wants to resolve Breonna’s case.

As theGrio previously reported, Cameron spoke about Breonna Taylor during the 2020 Republican National Convention, causing outrage on Black Twitter. He was reminded of his inaction to prosecute the police officers responsible for wrongfully shooting the 26-year-old EMT.

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Danai Gurira: Chadwick Boseman was exactly like Black Panther

‘I can’t even wrap my mind around this loss. A loss resonating in my own heart as well as around the globe.’

On Sunday night, Danai Gurira said her “Black Panther” co-star, Chadwick Boseman, was a real-life king in a lengthy Instagram post honoring Boseman’s life.

Gurira, who played Okoye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, said that Boseman was her brother in a post that she described as difficult to write.

READ MORE: ‘Black Panther’ star Chadwick Boseman dies of cancer at 43

“How do you honor a king? Reeling from the loss of my colleague, my friend, my brother. Struggling for words. Nothing feels adequate. I always marveled at how special Chadwick was,” Gurira stated.

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How do you honor a king? Reeling from the loss of my colleague, my friend, my brother. Struggling for words. Nothing feels adequate. I always marveled at how special Chadwick was. Such a pure hearted, profoundly generous, regal, fun guy. My entire job as Okoye was to respect and protect a king. Honor his leadership. Chadwick made that job profoundly easy. He was the epitome of kindness, elegance, diligence and grace. On many an occasion I would think how thankful I was that he was the leading man I was working closely with. A true class act. And so perfectly equipped to take on the responsibility of leading the franchise that changed everything for Black representation. He made everyone feel loved, heard and seen. He played great, iconic roles because he possessed inside of himself that connection to greatness to be able to so richly bring them to life. He had a heroic spirit, and marched to the beat of his own drum; hence his excellence as an artist and the incredible courage and determination as he faced life’s challenges; while still guiding us all. He was zen and sweet and funny (with the very best laugh), attentive, and truly, truly, good. I can’t even wrap my mind around this loss. A loss resonating in my own heart as well as around the globe. The children he inspired, my heart aches for them, to lose their hero just as they finally found him. I am so thankful to have taken the Black Panther journey with him. To have known him, spent time in his light and leadership and to call him forever a friend. Lala Ngoxolo Kumkani.

A post shared by Danai Gurira (@danaigurira) on

“[Boseman was] such a pure hearted, profoundly generous, regal, fun guy. My entire job as Okoye was to respect and protect a king. Honor his leadership. Chadwick made that job profoundly easy. He was the epitome of kindness, elegance, diligence and grace. On many an occasion I would think how thankful I was that he was the leading man I was working closely with. A true class act. And so perfectly equipped to take on the responsibility of leading the franchise that changed everything for Black representation,” Gurira said.

Gurira said that Boseman’s charisma made him a great candidate for the “Black Panther” role because he bought T’Challa, aka Black Panther, to life.

READ MORE: Celebrities react to the tragic death of Chadwick Boseman

“He had a heroic spirit, and marched to the beat of his own drum; hence his excellence as an artist and the incredible courage and determination as he faced life’s challenges; while still guiding us all,” Gurira said.

“He was zen and sweet and funny (with the very best laugh), attentive, and truly, truly, good. I can’t even wrap my mind around this loss. A loss resonating in my own heart as well as around the globe. The children he inspired, my heart aches for them, to lose their hero just as they finally found him. I am so thankful to have taken the Black Panther journey with him. To have known him, spent time in his light and leadership and to call him forever a friend,” she concluded.

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