Category Archives: News to use

Useful news for all to advance knowledge of the world and how it works

Indoor masking optional at UMass, required at other colleges as semester begins

Smith’s policy will be similar to Amherst College’s, where a requirement for masks to be worn in all indoor locations resumed this week. That will remain in effect through Sept. 12, with the lone exceptions to this rule being inside residence halls and when an individual is alone in a private office with the door closed.

“We fully anticipate moving to a more relaxed masking protocol once we are past the first few weeks of the semester,” wrote Catherine Epstein, provost and dean of the faculty, Liz Agosto, chief student affairs officer and dean of students, and Kate Harrington, chief human resources officer. “That decision will be made based on the prevalence of the virus on campus at that time and communicated prior to Sept. 12.”

At Mount Holyoke College, Beverly Daniel Tatum, interim president, sent a letter to the community about its rules.

“Masks will be required inside all campus buildings from Aug. 21 through Sept. 16 while the campus quickly densifies. Students need not wear a mask in their residence hall room,” Tatum wrote.

Masks will not be required outdoors in most cases, but should cases on campus or in the county change, they might be necessary.

Of the private instutitions, only Hampshire College is committed to keeping masks as a prevention strategy all fall, with President Ed Wingenbach and the COVID Response Team writing that this could be relaxed a bit after Sept. 10, depending on falling case counts.

“Masks will be required in all classes, labs, and other mandatory indoor academic activities, throughout the fall semester,” Wingenbach wrote. “Masks must be worn by everyone at indoor campus events open to the public, throughout the fall semester.”

Source: Indoor masking optional at UMass, required at other colleges as semester begins

♫ We Didn’t Start The Fire ♫

Loved this tune and still do…

Filosofa's Word

I last (and only) played this one three years ago, but it’s one of those songs like John Lennon’s Imagine that is timeless.  The lyrics are a stream of consciousness list of more than 100 events that Joel felt his generation was not responsible for. Many of the references are to the Cold War (U.S. vs. Russia), a problem his generation inherited.

we-didnt-start-fire

Joel says he got the idea for the song after a conversation with his friend, Sean Lennon, son of Beatle John Lennon, on the event of Sean’s 21st birthday, .  The conversation went like this:

Lennon:It’s a terrible time to be 21!

Joel:Yeah, I remember when I was 21 – I thought it was an awful time and we had Vietnam, and y’know, drug problems, and civil rights problems and everything seemed to be awful.

Lennon:Yeah, yeah, yeah, but it’s different for you. You…

View original post 686 more words

U.S. government reverses course, won’t let Canadian game birds into U.S. – Duluth News Tribune | News, weather, and sports from Duluth, Minnesota

In a reversal from a statement made last month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture now says no wild birds harvested by hunters in Canada will be allowed into the U.S. due to the possible spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza.

“Hunter-harvested unprocessed wild game bird meat/carcasses, originating from or transiting Canada, will not be permitted to enter the United States regardless of the Canadian province from which the bird was harvested,’’ the agency’s Animal Plant Health Inspection Service said in a statement released Sept. 2.

“APHIS is aware of the impact this will have on hunting season and will provide updates if new information is received.“

Source: U.S. government reverses course, won’t let Canadian game birds into U.S. – Duluth News Tribune | News, weather, and sports from Duluth, Minnesota

Island-wide bird flu prevention zone introduced – Jersey Evening Post

ALL bird owners must house their birds from tomorrow to prevent another outbreak of bird flu after a further increase in the number of dead or sick wild birds.

The whole Island is being declared a prevention zone which means that enclosures and runs must be completely covered with a solid or impermeable roof so that wild bird faeces cannot enter.

Food and water should be placed away from the perimeter fencing, which should also be vermin proof. Defra-approved disinfectant foot dips must also be placed at entrances and exits.

The further measures come after a 3km protection zone was introduced in both St Lawrence and St Peter in recent weeks after six dead chickens in St Lawrence tested positive for the virus and numerous cases were confirmed on a farm in St Peter.

Source: Island-wide bird flu prevention zone introduced – Jersey Evening Post

Streetart – Alice Pasquini @ San Gavino Monreale, Italy — Barbara Picci

Alice Pasquini @ San Gavino Monreale, Italy Location: San Gavino Monreale, Italy Artist: Alice Pasquini (Italy) For: Non Solo Murales di San Gavino Monreale A project by: Associazione Culturale SKIZZO Address: via Parrocchia, 87 USEFUL LINKS: Alice Pasquini in this blog | Website | Flickr | Instagram | Facebook fan page | Twitter

Streetart – Alice Pasquini @ San Gavino Monreale, Italy — Barbara Picci