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Showing posts from March, 2020

'Beauty and the Beast' parody stresses the importance of social distancing

Belle's introduction in Beauty and the Beast now has a pandemic twist in a parody version that emphasizes just how fast the coronavirus can spread if people don't take precautions.  Much like the original, Belle starts off her day by greeting her fellow villagers also living dull, provincial lives. But in this version, Belle isn't the protagonist. Instead, she's the one who won't wash her hands, isn't self-quarantining, and won't keep the CDC-recommended six feet of space between herself and other villagers.  "I've yet to see a reckless fool quite like her," the villagers croon. "Without a mask or gloves she goes?...She's gonna get us all infected, that is Belle."  Read more... More about Viral Videos , Beauty And The Beast , Coronavirus , Culture , and Web Culture from Mashable https://ift.tt/2xDOpkR

'Sailors do not need to die,' warns captain of coronavirus-hit U.S. aircraft carrier

The captain of the U.S. aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt, in a blunt letter, has called on Navy leadership for stronger measures to save the lives of his sailors and stop the spread of the coronavirus aboard the huge ship. The four-page letter, the contents of which were confirmed by U.S. officials to Reuters on Tuesday, described a bleak situation onboard the nuclear-powered carrier as more sailors test positive for the virus. Captain Brett Crozier, the ship's commanding officer, wrote that the carrier lacked enough quarantine and isolation facilities and warned the current strategy would slow but fail to eradicate the highly contagious respiratory virus. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/34aBVxn

AOC Drifts Away from Activist Left, Toward a More Conventional Staff and Political Strategy

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has taken steps recently to collaborate more with the Democratic establishment, taking a less contentious approach and allying with fellow Democratic members.After urging fellow progressives in 2018 to run for office with the support of the progressive group the Justice Democrats, which supported her, the New York Democrat has declined to endorse most of the candidates the group is backing to oust incumbent Democrats in 2020.Of the six candidates the group is backing this time around, Ocasio-Cortez has endorsed Jessica Cisneros in Texas and Marie Newman in Illinois, both of whom are running against conservative Democrats who oppose abortion and were subsequently supported by several other high-profile Democrats.The move comes as the Justice Democrats are recruiting progressive candidates to run against liberals and moderate Democrats."We don’t usually endorse so far out," Ocasio-Cortez's communications director, Lauren Hit...

Open coffins are left on roads to remind people to stay inside while soldiers shoot disinfectant from water cannons. Here's what lockdown for 57 million people in the Philippines looks like.

Despite the lockdown, on Sunday the Philippines reported a daily increase of 343 new coronavirus cases — its highest one day increase yet. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/3dJFHSo

U.S. records 700 coronavirus deaths in a single day for first time

The U.S. government raced to build hundreds of makeshift hospitals to ease the strain on overwhelmed healthcare systems as the United States marked 700 deaths in a single day from COVID-19 for the first time on Tuesday. Nearly half those deaths were in New York state, still the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic, and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio pleaded for reinforcements from the Trump administration, saying the worst may still be weeks away. De Blasio, a Democrat, said he had asked the White House for an additional 1,000 nurses, 300 respiratory therapists and 150 doctors by April 5 but had yet to receive an answer from the Trump administration. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2Ju1W0Q

Saudis Start to Unleash Oil Wave Despite U.S. Pressure

(Bloomberg) -- Saudi Arabia has made good on its pledge to ramp up oil exports in April, with a first wave of crude already on its way toward Europe and the U.S., a clear sign the price war remains in full swing.The kingdom has loaded several of the supertankers it hired earlier this month to boost its ability to increase exports, according to ship-tracking data. In addition, Riyadh has used the last few weeks to shuttle large amounts of crude into storage in Egypt, a stepping stone to the European market.The movements suggest that Riyadh is ramping up its oil production toward its target of supplying a record 12.3 million barrels a day in April, up from about 9.7 million in February, despite American pressure to end the price war.Saudi Arabia earlier this month slashed its official selling prices and announced the output hike after Russia refused to join other nations inside the OPEC+ alliance to cut output. The announcement, interpreted in the market as an oil price war, sent Brent a...

Venezuela rejects a U.S. offer to ease sanctions in exchange for transitional government

A former senior U.S. government official says it's the "best" deal they can get, while an analyst said this is more about "politics than policy." from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2w3wzat

10 cruise ships that are still at sea as the coronavirus shuts down the cruise industry

Ships from cruise lines like Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, and Cunard Line are still at sea. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2xGzp5r

Huawei warns China will strike back against new U.S. restrictions

Huawei warned on Tuesday that 2020 would be its most difficult year yet due to American trade restrictions which dealt a blow to its overseas sales in 2019, and predicted the Chinese government would retaliate against the United States. It said Beijing could hit back against U.S. measures to restrict chip sales to Huawei, by restricting sales of American products in China and by shifting to alternative suppliers in China and South Korea. "The Chinese government will not just stand by and watch Huawei be slaughtered on the chopping board," Chairman Eric Xu told reporters at the launch of Huawei's annual report. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2UxsvZr

What does furlough mean? Can I leave my home under shelter-in-place? Coronavirus terms, explained

What does it mean when you hear New York is the coronavirus "epicenter" in the United States? Do doctors say they need ventilators or respirator? from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2wHrll9

Russia's top coronavirus doctor who met Putin tests positive

The head of Moscow's main coronavirus hospital who met with President Vladimir Putin a week ago has tested positive, he said Tuesday, as the Kremlin announced the Russian leader's health was fine. Last Tuesday Denis Protsenko met with the Russian leader who inspected the Kommunarka hospital while wearing a bright yellow hazmat suit. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov swiftly told Russian news agencies that Putin took regular tests and there was no reason to worry about his health. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/3ateFwG

US warship captain seeks crew isolation as virus spreads

The captain of a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier facing a growing outbreak of the coronavirus is asking for permission to isolate the bulk of his roughly 5,000 crew members on shore, which would take the warship out of duty in an effort to save lives. In a memo to Navy leaders, the captain of the USS Theodore Roosevelt said that the spread of the disease is ongoing and accelerating and that removing all but 10% of the crew is a “necessary risk” in order to stop the spread of the virus. Navy leaders on Tuesday were scrambling to determine how to best respond to the extraordinary request as dozens of crew members tested positive. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2xCXA53

Delayed 'Resident Evil: Resistance' beta goes live on PC and PS4

After technical issues forced Capcom to delay the Resident Evil: Resistance beta on PC and PlayStation 4, it's now available on those platforms in addition to Xbox One. You'll need to install an update to try it on PS4 and Steam. from Engadget RSS Feed https://ift.tt/2URUUZ5

Forget Zoom: Use these private video-chatting tools, instead

Zoom is so last week — which, in the time of coronavirus, might as well be last year.  The videoconference tool that's captured the nation's attention as it socially distances and shelters in place has won legions of converts for its easy-to-use interface and fun backgrounds . It also happens to be a privacy nightmare . Thankfully, there are other options that cybersecurity and privacy experts say will get the job done — without the baggage.  And yes, Zoom has a lot of baggage. Let's start with the fact that the company has misrepresented the security of its videoconferencing service The Intercept reported today that, despite telling users that "Zoom is using an end to end encrypted connection," the company does not in fact end-to-end encrypt calls on its platform.  Read more... More about Privacy , Cybersecurity , Zoom , Coronavirus , and Tech from Mashable https://ift.tt/2UQBROL

India, US ramp up ties in fight against Covid-19

‘Don’t bank on summer, remain alert’

Dell has a ton of Vizio 4K TVs on sale, and they come with free gift cards

We need all the indoor entertainment we can get right now. Making the switch from a tiny 40-inch TV (or, worse, using your laptop as a TV) is the obvious first move, but if hours of TV every day for the next few months is going to be a thing, it's really okay to splurge on those accessories. SEE ALSO: 'Tiger King' Season 2? Producers say more of Netflix docuseries could be on way Dell is making it super easy: A slew of Vizio 4K TVs are on sale (including the P-Series Quantum X, which is constantly out of stock), and attached to your purchase are free Dell gift cards — anywhere from $25 to $250. Read more... More about 4k Tv , Vizio , Oled , Mashable Shopping , and Tech from Mashable https://ift.tt/2UIBs0S

Udemy is having a flash sale so you can learn something new while stuck at home

TL;DR: Udemy is having a flash sale through Monday, March 30, making many of its popular online classes as cheap as $10.99. We're now on Week 3 of social distancing due to the coronavirus outbreak , which means things are starting to look pretty dire on the boredom front. If you've already depleted your Netflix queue, deep-cleaned your house twice over, nailed down your sourdough recipe , attempted a TikTok dance, *and* paid off your tent loan to Tom Nook , what else is there to do while you're stuck at home for the foreseeable future besides... I don't know, descend slowly into cabin fever-induced madness? Read more... More about Online Learning , Mashable Shopping , Udemy , Udemy Online Courses , and Social Distancing from Mashable https://ift.tt/39uor04

11 harmless April Fools' Day pranks, if you need a little fun to brighten your day

Read more... More about Pranks , April Fools Day , Quarantine , Coronavirus , and Culture from Mashable https://ift.tt/2UPwTBN

Sam Neill is the daily motivation we badly need during social distancing

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread and the news continues to be largely terrible, it's more important than ever that we balance out our media consumption. And what's the best counter to a constant barrage of worrying statistics? The answer, it turns out, has been under our noses the whole time: Sam Neill's Twitter feed. The Jurassic Park legend's social media has long been a glorious place , but in recent weeks — while he's been social distancing on his own — Neill has really stepped up his game. From Radiohead ukulele covers to footwear updates, here's what he's been posting... Read more... This shoe-washing pick-me-up. More about Twitter , Sam Neill , Coronavirus , Social Distancing , and Culture from Mashable https://ift.tt/2QX9vRN

They made vacuum cleaners before the coronavirus outbreak. Now, they’re making ventilators.

UK manufacturer Gtech revealed a prototype design for a medical ventilator, a vital piece of equipment in the battle against the novel coronavirus. Gtech, known for their vacuum cleaners, was asked to help mass produce ventilators by the UK government.  Read more... More about Uk Government , Vacuum Cleaner , Coronavirus , Ventilators , and Uk Gov from Mashable https://ift.tt/2UvXe9o

Save $150 on an iPad Pro, plus more tablet and laptop deals

It's not looking great out there right now, but at least we've got.. retail therapy ? It's cold comfort, but honestly, it's the perfect time to treat yourself — you deserve it for surviving in this world today.  If you're a fellow tech lover, we've scrounged up a list of the best deals on laptops and tablets for your viewing (and buying) pleasure.  Here's what we found, and catch us again on Friday for more.  Laptops $499 and below Asus ImagineBook — $299.99 (list price $499.99) Dell Vostro 14 3490 Laptop — $529 (list price $898.57) Laptops $500 to $999 HP Envy x360 — $509.99 (list price $849.99) Lenovo Yoga C630 — $549 (list price $699) Microsoft Surface Go — $599 (list price $679) Microsoft Surface Pro 7 — $599 (list price $959) HP Gaming Laptop — $599.99 (list price $749.99) Asus VivoBook 15 — $619.99 (list price $719.99) Lenovo Yoga 730 — $705.99 (list price $829.99) HP Spectre x360 — $769.99 (list price ...

Audible is giving away hundreds of stories for kids — and there's no catch

TL;DR : As of March 30, you can access hundreds of  stories for kids for free on Audible.  "For as long as schools are closed, we're open." That's Audible's latest mantra that's sure to make a huge difference in households all over the world.  The audiobook behemoth recently announced that hundreds of their kid-friendly titles are available for 100% free with absolutely no catch. Seriously, you don't even have to register or log in. Just click the link and get to listening.  So the next time your little ones are going a bit stir-crazy but you don't have the time to sit and read to them, let Audible do the work. There are stories perfect for all ages, from Winnie-the-Pooh for your tiny toddler to The Mystery of Alice for your tween. Plus, there are a ton of options in Spanish, French, German, Italian, and Japanese. Read more... More about Children S Books , Audible , Mashable Shopping , Tech , and Consumer Tech from Mashable https://ift.tt/3...

This Samsung stainless steel stick vacuum is cheaper than Dyson's V11

TL;DR: This Samsung VS90E cordless stick vacuum bundle comes with an extra removable battery and as of March 30 is on sale for $449.99 — a total savings of $280. The importance of routine cleaning during this (figuratively) messy period can't be understated. It's therapeutic — both if you need spring cleaning for a sense of normalcy or if your home is just looking extra... lived in. There's no better way to step up your isolation deep clean than with a new, splurge-worthy vacuum. You may have seen Samsung's Star Wars -themed robot vacuums , but did you know Samsung makes cordless stick vacuums, too? For $449 — a savings of $280 — you can try the Samsung VS90E for yourself. (For comparison, the version of this Samsung vacuum with the spin brush mop attachment is $699.99.) Read more... More about Samsung , Cleaning , Vacuums , Mashable Shopping , and Tech from Mashable https://ift.tt/2ULyUPE

Pelosi on virus: ‘As the president fiddles, people are dying’

“As the president fiddles, people are dying,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi during an interview on Sunday morning. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2wKB8qk

Kremlin Fights U.S. Sanctions, Backs Maduro in Rosneft Deal

(Bloomberg) -- The Kremlin’s sudden shift of ownership of multi-billion-dollar oil projects in Venezuela shields oil giant Rosneft PJSC from further U.S. sanctions but keeps Moscow firmly behind embattled President Nicolas Maduro amid a wider stand-off with Washington.“Russia is not walking away from Maduro and will seek to thwart U.S. efforts to depose him,” said Vladimir Frolov, a former diplomat and foreign policy analyst in Moscow. “Moscow is just shielding Rosneft from sanctions which could result in a blanket embargo on all Rosneft exports.”Fears of broader sanctions have grown after the U.S. in recent months slapped restrictions on Rosneft trading companies for handling business with Venezuela. More recently, the U.S. has hinted that it might step up pressure on the Russian oil sector to reduce production. That followed Moscow’s decision early this month not to deepen output cuts agreed with OPEC led Saudi Arabia to boost output, flooding the market and pushing prices to the low...

'Italy is closed': A reporter's account inside Rome, where coronavirus brought the city to a halt

NBC News' Bill O'Reilly reveals how rapidly the pandemic has changed life in Italy's capital. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2UJwUHt

Pelosi aims to move fast on next rescue package

The speaker is eager to include Democratic priorities in any coronavirus relief bill. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2xzE89i

U.S. judge stops Texas from curbing abortions during coronavirus crisis

The ruling by U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel in Austin was the first in a series of legal actions aimed at blocking similar steps by various Republican-led states cracking down on abortion during the pandemic. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, last week announced that abortion providers were covered by a state order that required postponement of non-urgent medical procedures to preserve hospital beds and equipment during the pandemic. Yeakel ruled that Paxton's action "prevents Texas women from exercising what the Supreme Court has declared is their fundamental constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy before a fetus is viable." from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/3axgVmu

Coronavirus: New York bar owner becomes first to be arrested for ignoring lockdown

The owner of a bar in New York City has been arrested for operating in contravention of the city’s coronavirus lockdown measures.New York police confirmed on Monday that 56-year-old Vasil Pando had been arrested on Saturday night at an address in Brooklyn. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/39vYsW8

'This is not a reality TV show': Trump criticized for tweets on TV ratings as coronavirus death toll rises

Trump said the news media was "going CRAZY" because the TV ratings for his recent news briefings were so high. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/3auUaQ6

Coronavirus: India's pandemic lockdown turns into a human tragedy

Hundreds of thousands of migrant workers are fleeing cities, posing a fresh risk of infection. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2xDKrsb

Air strikes hit Houthi-held Yemeni capital Sanaa: witnesses

The Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthi group in Yemen carried out several air strikes on Monday on the capital Sanaa, witnesses and media said, killing dozens of horses at a military school. A number of sensitive sites including the presidential palace compound, the school and an air base close to Sanaa airport were hit, and loud explosions were heard across the city, residents said. The coalition said the operation was aimed at destroying "legitimate military targets including Houthi ballistic batteries which threaten civilian lives". from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2QUBgKI

A coronavirus patient's phlegm or poop could still have live virus in it even after they recover and test negative, new research suggests

New research raises doubts about whether negative throat swabs are enough to say a patient is coronavirus-free. Doctors may have to sample their poop. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/3bEH3fC

Apple Music's Come Together space puts its upbeat playlists in one place

Building on the AI-generated Get Up! Mix the company unveiled last week, Apple is now adding a new section to Apple Music called Come Together that features a variety of playlists designed to help you get through long days stuck inside. In all, there... from Engadget RSS Feed https://ift.tt/2JnAhih

New high: 11 more deaths, 157 new cases

Both the number of deaths due to Covid-19 as well as new cases reported across the country surged to a new single-day high on Monday, with 11 people succumbing to the infection and 157 fresh cases reported from the states.

Bodies of all victims to be cremated, says Mumbai civic body

A circular issued by BMC commissioner Praveen Pardeshi on Monday saying bodies of all dead Covid-19 positive patients must be cremated irrespective of religion stirred up a controversy in the city, with many protesting against the guidelines. The circular was amended later in the evening by the BMC chief’s office to say burials would be allowed if “the burial grounds are large enough.”

Report: Nintendo to release several remastered Mario games this year

Nintendo is apparently going to celebrate the 35th anniversary of its most beloved character by releasing multiple Mario classics on the Switch, including Super Mario Sunshine, which hasn’t been available since the GameCube days. And it couldn’t come at a better time. Insiders apparently leaked the details to both Eurogamer and VGC. The games won’t just be released on the Switch — they’ll evidently be remastered as well. The games in question include not only the aforementioned Sunshine — which I can’t wait to play, as I never played the original — but Mario 64 and Super Mario Galaxy. Nintendo was reportedly going to… This story continues at The Next Web Or just read more coverage about: Nintendo from The Next Web https://ift.tt/39u1gDe

Rhode Island Governor Announces National Guard Will Go 'Door-to-Door' to Identify New Yorkers to Slow COVID-19 Spread

Rhode Island officials will order anyone coming from New York into quarantine from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/3bwfTYa

Serial killer dubbed Grim Sleeper dies in California prison

Lonnie Franklin, the convicted serial killer known as the "Grim Sleeper" who preyed on the women of South Los Angeles for more than two decades, has died in prison. California corrections officials said Franklin was found unresponsive in his cell at San Quentin State Prison on Saturday evening. An autopsy will determine the cause of death; however, there were no signs of trauma, corrections spokeswoman Terry Thornton said in a statement. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/3bBhtrP

Detainees in US immigration jails living in fear as coronavirus spreads

Recordings obtained by Guardian reveal people in Ice centers in the south concerned they are not being properly cared forDetainees at immigration detention centers across the American south have alleged heavy-handed crackdowns amid increasing panic and protest over the coronavirus pandemic, according to advocates and recordings of detainees obtained by the Guardian.A number of detainees have expressed concern they are not being properly cared for in packed detention centers. Former senior immigration officials and attorneys have called for the release of nonviolent detainees. Judges in New Jersey, New York and California have ordered the release of small numbers, based on health concerns.“People are terrified for their lives and think that they’re going to die there,” said Phoebe Lytle, a law student volunteer who has spoken with detainees at US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) facilities in Louisiana. “I don’t think anyone is saying it in a light or flippant way.”Jaclyn Cole,...

Tapper Brutally Grills NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio for Delayed Coronavirus Response

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio was left flailing on Sunday morning when CNN anchor Jake Tapper repeatedly pressed him on his delayed response to the coronavirus pandemic and whether the mayor’s assurances to New Yorkers that their lives would go on normally led to a more rapid spread of the virus.Appearing on CNN’s State of the Union, de Blasio was first asked about his calls to the Trump administration to provide more ventilators and other life-saving medical supplies to his city, which has become the epicenter of the pandemic. After the mayor sounded the alarm on the “sharp escalation” of cases the city may see in the days ahead, Tapper brought up de Blasio’s previous downplaying of the pandemic.Playing a series of video clips of the Democratic mayor telling city residents to “go about your lives” over the past couple of months, Tapper noted that de Blasio delivered that message to the city as recent as March 13. “In retrospect, is that message, at least in part, to blame for...

Coronavirus: Trump 'considering quarantine on New York'

The president says he is considering quarantining the state, but its governor expresses concern. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2UoKJfs

Trump asks why reporter doesn't act 'a little more positive'

President Trump on Sunday asked why a White House reporter does not act “a little more positive” in covering the administration’s coronavirus response. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2UJKHOp

The Trump administration sent California 170 ventilators to help in coronavirus battle — but none of the equipment worked

Instead of "complaining," California Governor Gavin Newsom said "broken" ventilators were sent to a local company to be repaired. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/3auPZUq

North Korea test fires missiles amid worries about outbreak

North Korea on Sunday fired two suspected ballistic missiles into the sea, South Korea and Japan said, continuing a streak of weapons launches that suggests leader Kim Jong Un is trying to strengthen domestic support amid worries about a possible coronavirus outbreak in the country. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected the projectiles flying from the North Korean eastern coastal city of Wonsan into the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan on Sunday morning. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2wAtTBy