All posts by nedhamson

Activist, writer, researcher, addicted to sharing information and facts.

Thanks, Quips! Little Free Library Scavenger Hunt and National Unplugged Day–March 5 — e-Quips

Context, Thought, and Learning: ShiraDest Offers Project Do Better

Many people shut down their Little Free Libraries last March because of COVID concerns. Others turned them into Little Free Pantries and one in the Queens Anne neighborhood of Seattle created a Little Free Art Gallery. Coronado, California announced one for tomorrow, which is what gave me the idea. Little Free Library has a plan […]

Little Free Library Scavenger Hunt and National Unplugged Day–March 5 — e-Quips

View original post

IDB Jamaica civil society group calls for establishment of National Commission on COVID-19 — Petchary’s Blog

Yesterday (Friday, March 5) Jamaica recorded its highest ever number of new cases (527). In the past seven days, 29 people have died from COVID-19 and we have had around two thousand new cases. We have COVID-19 cases in every community, in every parish. As we are still waiting for the vaccine (the first batch […]

IDB Jamaica civil society group calls for establishment of National Commission on COVID-19 — Petchary’s Blog

Threats to call ICE lobbed at Picos Mexican restaurant after it required masks – The Washington Post

This week, after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) said Tuesday that he would rescind the statewide mask mandate while the vast majority of residents remain unvaccinated, the tough choice to enforce public health guidance fell to business owners, and Picos announced it would continue requiring masks. But, after such a challenging year, the reaction to their decision was disheartening, co-owner Monica Richards said: Several people sent hateful messages through social media and called the restaurant, threatening to report staffers to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

“This has been ongoing through covid,” O’Sullivan said. “We’ve had threats of calling ICE. I had one guy just stand there and berate one of my bartenders and tell her ‘you’re an absolute idiot, you don’t know what you’re doing. If you think these masks are going to save your life, you’re stupid’ blah, blah, blah. Nobody wants to deal with that stuff.”

One employee of Grand Prize Bar in December had to get stitches after he was hit in the head with a glass by a maskless customer he approached, Houston Police said.

Reacting to the potential violence that could ensue from confusion or disagreements over mask rules, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo reminded residents this week that businesses have the right to implement their own mandates. Acevedo also encouraged “common decency,” saying in a video that wearing a mask can save lives.

Source: Threats to call ICE lobbed at Picos Mexican restaurant after it required masks – The Washington Post

For the Love of Trees – Micro of the Macro

In those early years, I spent a lot of time climbing trees. It was great fun and I loved the views from above. Recently, I’ve learned to appreciate trees for other reasons. When I checked out of real life and took up traveling for a few years, (see Escaping Normal for more on that!) I discovered that trees were healing. Hiking in a forest or canyon or up a mountain surrounded by redwoods, ponderosa pines, aspens, or birch trees made me feel nurtured. And that’s as true now as before. Source: For the Love of Trees – Micro of the Macro

Myanmar: police maraud through Yangon in overnight raids

3797.jpg?width=1200&height=630&quality=8

Residents say soldiers and police fired shots and took people away in raids on several districts of largest city

Myanmar security forces have fired gunshots as they carried out overnight raids in the main city, Yangon, after breaking up the latest protests against the coup with tear gas and stun grenades.

More protests were planned on Sunday after local media reported that police fired tear gas shells and stun grenades to break up a protest in Yangon on Saturday.

Continue reading…

Life’s Real Treasures

Saania's diary - reflections, learnings, sparkles

We seek happiness
In the luxury that we see
When eternal contentment
Is a treasure so free

A venture in the woods
A walk by the beach
Pristine Mother Nature
With so much to teach

We can rush to the finish line
To claim that we’ve won
Or stop to smell the flowers
Before the journey is done

We can chase the big things
While life passes by
Or resurrect our childhood
Enough to lift us up high

We can seek happiness without
And get lost in ‘things’
Or stop for a deep breath
Realising it’s all within

We can bleat at life
And fall deep into its pit
Or watch the sun rise
And be glad that it did

-SaaniaSparkle 🧚🏻‍♀️

View original post

As NYC Continues Reopening, CDC Urges Avoiding Nonessential Indoor Spaces

“Restricting any on-premises dining at restaurants can help limit community transmission of COVID-19 and reduce case and death growth rates,” the CDC said, along with strict and consistent mask policies. People eat inside the New Shanghai Deluxe restaurant as indoor dining resumed in Chinatown in February.

New Shanghai Deluxe restaurant in Chinatown.

“Restricting any on-premises dining at restaurants can help limit community transmission of COVID-19 and reduce case and death growth rates,” the CDC said, along with strict and consistent mask policies. [ more › ]

No, Dr Seuss and Mr Potato Head haven’t been ‘cancelled’. Here’s the difference

2272.jpg?width=1200&height=630&quality=8

Real cancel culture has existed throughout US history, and much of what we witness now is meaningless by comparison

On Tuesday, the estate of Dr Seuss decided that it will cease publishing six books by the beloved children’s author which contain offensive depictions of non-white characters. A week earlier, Hasbro, the manufacturer of Mr Potato Head, announced that the toy will henceforth be known by the non-gendered moniker Potato Head.

An army of defenders has now risen to protect the sanctity of Mr Potato Head and Dr Seuss. Social media and conservative news outlets have been consumed with memes and hot takes declaring the dangerous overreach of “cancel culture”, which they define as the process of punishing a person or product deemed offensive by some vague set of modern moral standards.

Continue reading…