Category Archives: News to use

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

Iowa bans mask mandates as issue grows more political | CIDRAP (Me: “Fake Freedom” argument used to advance political advantage while mindlessly endangering children and adults)

“The state of Iowa is putting parents back in control of their child’s education and taking greater steps to protect the rights of all Iowans to make their own healthcare decisions,” Reynolds said in a statement. “I am proud to be a governor of a state that values personal responsibility and individual liberties. I want to thank the Iowa Legislature for their quick work in bringing this bill to my desk so that it can be signed into law.”Source: Iowa bans mask mandates as issue grows more political | CIDRAP

‘Support your local beekeeper’: Caribbean concerns on World Bee Day · Global Voices

On May 20, the world marks the fourth annual World Bee Day via a virtual event hosted by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization, guided by the theme “Bee engaged—Build Back Better for Bees.” Bees play an important role in pollination, a process that is critical to the survival of ecosystems, biodiversity, food security and sustainability, and they have been under threat at rates 100 to 1,000 times higher than normal because of habitat loss and other human impacts, including the climate crisis. Unsustainable agricultural approaches like monoculture and the damaging effects of pesticides have greatly harmed the world’s bee population. This year’s event aims to achieve global awareness of the ways in which the COVID-19 pandemic has heightened food insecurity, while advocating for ways in which to regenerate the environment and protect these vital pollinators.

Source: ‘Support your local beekeeper’: Caribbean concerns on World Bee Day · Global Voices

Tunisians left to themselves to fight COVID-19 · Global Voices

Since April, Tunisia has faced a sharp rise in the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths. The Ministry of Health described the health situation as “very dangerous” with hospitals being at almost full capacity. To flatten the curve, the authorities—again—announced new containment measures that include a national curfew, school closure, travel restrictions. But few believe it will be enough.

Unlike wealthy countries, there are no relief schemes to support workers and businesses to stay afloat. With unemployment already high and the cost of living skyrocketing, the most vulnerable have barely received ad-hoc small state assistance, and people are left to fend for themselves to survive. Therefore, the prospect of catching the virus is less of a concern than the necessity of carrying on and making a living.

Though Tunisia imposed a stringent lockdown at the onset of the pandemic and for a while kept the spread of the virus low at a high price for the economy, there is now a wide feeling of powerlessness and fatigue. “If I don’t go out and work who is going to give me money?” asked Salah, a Tunisian builder who, like the majority of workers, relies on daily earnings.

Source: Tunisians left to themselves to fight COVID-19 · Global Voices

Lemon Sour Cream Dip

Smitha's Bake Love

Its not common that I have sourcream in my fridge for few days. You see, I make yogurt at home. So, anything I want sourcream, I can most probably replace it with homemade yogurt. But few weeks ago I made a recipe specifically with sour cream and then I had some leftovers.

And then I happened to go to produce junction recently and picked up boat load of produce for real cheap. Go here, if you would like to see what I picked up and how I used all of it.

So, while I was prepping various veggies for brunch the next day, I saw sour cream sitting in the fridge and I knew what I could do with produce and cream together. The dip can be made in minutes and its very yummy and goes with any produce or even fruits.

Check out Garlic Kale Chips here.

The leftovers…

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Dennis-Newton House National Historic Place

Michael Stephen Wills Photography

Wiki Loves Monuments 2017 is a contest that closed September 30, 2017.

Click for Wiki Loves Monuments 2017 contest

The National Register of Historic Place # 16000590, the Dennis-Newton House of Ithaca, New York is a recent listing, dated September 6, 2016.  In researching potential for the Wiki contest, I discovered this place was absent a photograph.  Seizing the opportunity, I grabbed these photographs the same session as the suppressed Ithaca Pottery Site, published in my blog in April.

The location was a revelation, around the corner and a few blocks down from our son and daughter-in-law’s house where they are raising three (of our 12) grandchildren, across the street from where the children take swim lessons.  Parking in downtown Ithaca is incredibly coveted and I was not motivated to shoot during the golden hour where cars would, maybe, not be parked out front and the light perfect for the…

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Province in China encourages residents to inform on crypto miners – UPI.com

A Chinese province that has approved new coal-fired power plants is cracking down on cryptocurrency miners as concern rises over emissions.

The Inner Mongolia Development and Reform Commission said that it would create a new hotline for residents to inform on people suspected of crypto mining.

Inner Mongolia in February vowed to shut down cryptocurrency mines to reduce energy consumption, but mining resumes secretly, the Financial Times reported Thursday.

The whistleblower initiative comes at a time when Xi Jinping is seeking to reduce carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve “carbon neutrality” by 2060, the report said.

Source: Province in China encourages residents to inform on crypto miners – UPI.com