Category: music

Lest we forget

Meet the ICU nurse who silently stood in protest at a rally to reopen Arizona

By Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN
Video by Jeffrey Kopp, CNN

Updated 1751 GMT (0151 HKT) April 24, 2020

(CNN)On her day off from working at a Covid-19 unit in an Arizona hospital, ICU nurse Lauren Leander threw on a pair of clean scrubs and headed to an anti-lockdown protest at the state Capitol. She was determined to be a voice for her patients through silence.Leander, a Banner Health nurse of five years, joined an intimate group of healthcare workers on Monday to counter protest at the Capitol, where people gathered to urge the governor to reopen the state.Standing up straight, her arms crossed and face mask on, Leander stood on the Capitol steps, with a handful of healthcare workers lined up by her side. She said she only spoke if someone encroached on her personal space, despite people raising their voices at her.”It was heated, people were very fired up about what they had to say,” she said. “A lot of the top comments we got were about us being fake nurses, there was a huge majority of them that still believe this virus is fake, that it’s a hoax and not real at all. They were convinced that we’re fake nurses and that’s why we weren’t talking.” Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey has put a stay-at-home order in place until April 30. Because of this, several different groups of rallied at the Capitol to say the economy has suffered enough and the order needs to be lifted, according to CNN affiliate KNXV.ICU nurse Lauren Leander attended protest in support of fellow healthcare workers and coronavirus patients. Michael Chow/The Republic/ImagnICU nurse Lauren Leander attended protest in support of fellow healthcare workers and coronavirus patients. Michael Chow/The Republic/ImagnLeander told CNN she volunteered to work in the hospital’s Covid-19 unit full time and has been seeing patients from all over the state for the last month.https://9a3aa20e1aac5308b2246d0a938f6606.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-37/html/container.html”I just hope people see that nurses are not the enemy and we’ll take care of them one way or the other,” Leander said. “I don’t care if you believe in this virus or not or truly what your opinion is of it, if these people show up in my ICU we will take care of them one way or another.”

The power of silence

After seeing photos and video Sunday of people at a rally in Denver, Colorado, demanding the state reopen and ease restrictions designed to slow the spread of coronavirus, Leander said she was inspired and wanted to stand up in support of her fellow healthcare workers. After seeing a Facebook post about Monday’s rally, Leander said she texted a few of her colleagues and headed there.

Preliminary antibody testing in New York suggests much wider spread of coronavirus

Preliminary antibody testing in New York suggests much wider spread of coronavirusLeander and the few other nurses, from other hospitals, stood in silence at the “Patriots’ Day Rally” at the Capitol where nearly 1,000 people gathered, according to KNXV. “This isn’t about politics, choosing sides, this virus does not discriminate at all,” she said. “It’s taking lives from one end of the spectrum to another. I know it’s wishful thinking but I just would love if we just had that common ground with fighting this virus.”Leander said right now the public needs to be listening to the experts who are studying this virus. Even as nurses, they’re relying on science to guide them. “Our main message was that we wanted healthcare workers’ voices to be heard louder than misinformation and fear,” Leander said. “There will be a calm and controlled manner to reopen our economy and our state…you don’t open the flood gates and release everyone at once.”

Experiencing heartbreaking moments at work

Photos from the rally in Denver caught the attention of many on social media, including former Arizona state Sen. Dr. Kelli Ward, who challenged Sen. John McCain in the Republican primary in 2016.https://9a3aa20e1aac5308b2246d0a938f6606.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-37/html/container.htmlWard tweeted Tuesday morning, questioning the authenticity of the healthcare workers who attended and calling the movement propaganda.”EVEN IF these ‘spontaneously’ appearing ppl at protests against govt overreach (sporting the same outfits, postures, & facial expressions) ARE involved in healthcare – when they appeared at rallies, they were actors playing parts #Propaganda #FakeOutrage,” Ward tweeted.

40 states and Washington, DC have ordered or recommended that schools don't reopen this academic year

40 states and Washington, DC have ordered or recommended that schools don’t reopen this academic yearCNN has reached out to Ward for comment.After hearing about Ward’s tweet, Leander said if given the opportunity she would walk her through the ICU at her hospital to the bedside of some of her coronavirus patients to see firsthand the impacts of the virus. “I wish she could be in my shoes for a day, I’d have her put on a pair of scrubs and walk with me,” Leander said. Leander has not seen any of her family members since she’s been working in the Covid-19 unit. And although that lost time has been tough, what she’s been experiencing in the hospital is tougher. “A human being having to pass away via FaceTime because their family is not allowed in the hospital during this crisis, it’s the most heartbreaking thing you will ever see,” she said.A few days ago, Leander said she had a patient grab her hand and say, “Please tell me I’m not going to die here.”While Leander knows better days are ahead, she said it doesn’t take away from the reality that there are people impacted and suffering right now.

Welsh Dragon

So today is St Georges day and seeing as I am a Welsh erm person and I thought I would put that title up to attract some attention. So today is the anniversary of the death of St George. Well I thought I would post up some information I found about my birthday.

If you were born on July 12, 1976 that makes you a Dragon with the element of Fire and the stem of Positive. In other words you are a Positive Fire Dragon. Don’t know what that means? Don’t worry, keep reading and you’ll soon understand.

Your lucky number is 2

Your best match is a Rooster! Both are strong willed, ambitious and clever. The Rooster likes to nag and if the Dragon can learn to ignore this little short coming, there is plenty of flair and excitement for both. The years of the Rooster: 1957, 1969, 1987, 1993, 2005, 2017.

TWEET YOUR FRIENDS AND TELL THEM WHAT YOUR SIGN IS

  • Your gemstone is Ruby
  • Your flower is the Rose
  • Your fragrance is Eau Verte
  • Your tree is the Sequoia

The Dragon is the symbol of ancient China. The Dragon is revered with equal status as the Chinese Emperor as his throne is the Dragon and only he can wear the Dragon robe. The Dragon year is popular with every Chinese parent who hopes for a Dragon child. The Dragon is a karmic sign and those born in the year of the Dragon are said to wear the ”horns of destiny”.

roud, aristocratic, eccentric, egotistical and extremely forthright and direct, Dragons will establish their goals and ideals quite early in life. They set high standards for themselves and have the potential to accomplish great things. They possess little to no self-doubt and are courageous, individualistic and pioneering. Inspired by their own grandiose and colorful visions, whatever they attempt will be either stupendous, trail-blazing successes or dramatic failures. Whatever their chosen path, they must follow it, regardless of the consequences. They were born with a mission in life and it is their destiny to fulfill it.

Dragons are admired but have few close friends. In love relationships, they are dutiful but they have a problem being diplomatic and refuse to accept defeat when in a fight.

Downright electrifying, Fire Dragons breathe vigor and power. These natural leaders smile at adversity, turn complainers into optimists, and lead lives as inspired as a Beethoven Sonata. They are square shooters in dealing with individuals and are often called upon to mediate disputes. Because they care so much about people, Fire Dragons like to support charitable causes and bring friends together for elegant evening soirees. These Dragons are fired with ambition, unflagging enthusiasm, and intelligence and enjoy most impressive careers as a result. Despite all the money they make, Finance is a big question mark. Money is easy come easy go. Until they control their spending habits, money will just go flying in the wind. Romantics at heart, Fire Dragons can”t help playing Matchmaker. They”re pretty lucky, too! As for themselves, they ooze charisma and never need anyone to fix them up. Successful in love, often placed on pedestals, Fire Dragons are attractive and have fire in the belly. The opposite sex feels very secure.

According to the Western Zodiac, you were born under the sign of Cancer.

According to the ancient Egyptians, you were born under the influence of Anubis. This means you are sensitive, persitent and out-spoken. According to the ancient Egyptian zodiac your sacred animal is the jackal.

Cancer

The God of Death rules over this zodiac sign, and it leads people to be passionate and creative. Not only that, but they are extremely sensitive to others and about their own feelings, which causes them to have unpredictable emotions. They are introverts but confident ones who aren’t afraid to take charge when need be. They don’t restrain themselves when speaking their mind, but they’ve always made sure they’ve observed all options before coming to a decision. They hold onto goals for long periods of time, even if it takes them years to complete, they refuse to let it go until it’s done. They do suffer from caring too much about those around them, and can be taken advantage of because they just want to help. Because they are happy to speak their mind, they often find themselves saying things at inappropriate times.

Not forgetting a tune too.

The Flaming Lips – Do You Realize

Black Gold

I have just seen on the news and now also read on the NY Times oil article about oil. I signed up to a NY Times subscription this week and also pay my BBC subs online so feel ok posting this article. I can’t believe black gold or oil is now in negative equity in the USA and people will pay you to take it away. It’s a market working in the new environment. Not many cars on the road, not many planes in the sky and not many industries pumping out pollution. I knew that this was theortically profitable and possible, but genuinly never thought I would see it happen in my life time let alone to black gold or oil. During the 90’s the theory was about peak oil pricing and that it would be worth more than what people could afford to pay but negative equity! The brain boggles. So I have just searched for an article on the internet that I can post about it and found a good old BBC page.

US oil prices turn negative as demand dries up

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The price of US oil has turned negative for the first time in history.

That means oil producers are paying buyers to take the commodity off their hands over fears that storage capacity could run out in May.

Demand for oil has all but dried up as lockdowns across the world have kept people inside.

As a result, oil firms have resorted to renting tankers to store the surplus supply and that has forced the price of US oil into negative territory.

The price of a barrel of West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the benchmark for US oil, fell as low as minus $37.63 a barrel.

“This is off-the-charts wacky,” said Stewart Glickman, an energy equity analyst at CFRA Research. “The demand shock was so massive that it’s overwhelmed anything that people could have expected.”

The severe drop on Monday was driven in part by a technicality of the global oil market. Oil is traded on its future price and May futures contracts are due to expire on Tuesday. Traders were keen to offload those holdings to avoid having to take delivery of the oil and incur storage costs.

June prices for WTI were also down, but trading at above $20 per barrel. Meanwhile, Brent Crude – the benchmark used by Europe and the rest of the world, which is already trading based on June contracts – was also weaker, down 8.9% at less than $26 a barrel.

Mr Glickman said the historic reversal in pricing was a reminder of the strains facing the oil market and warned that June prices could also fall, if lockdowns remain in place. “I’m really not optimistic about the prospects for oil companies or oil prices,” he said.

OGUK, the business lobby for the UK’s offshore oil and gas sector, said the negative price of US oil would affect firms operating in the North Sea.

“The dynamics of this US market are different from those directly driving UK produced Brent but we will not escape the impact,” said OGUK boss Deirdre Michie.

“Ours is not just a trading market; every penny lost spells more uncertainty over jobs,” she said.

The oil industry has been struggling with both tumbling demand and in-fighting among producers about reducing output.

Earlier this month, Opec members and its allies finally agreed a record deal to slash global output by about 10%. The deal was the largest cut in oil production ever to have been agreed.

But many analysts say the cuts were not big enough to make a difference.

“It hasn’t taken long for the market to recognise that the Opec+ deal will not, in its present form, be enough to balance oil markets,” said Stephen Innes, chief global market strategist at Axicorp.

The leading exporters – Opec and allies such as Russia – have already agreed to cut production by a record amount.

In the United States and elsewhere, oil-producing businesses have made commercial decisions to cut output. But still the world has more crude oil than it can use.

And it’s not just about whether we can use it. It’s also about whether we can store it until the lockdowns are eased enough to generate some additional demand for oil products.

Capacity is filling fast on land and at sea. As that process continues it’s likely to bear down further on prices.

It will take a recovery in demand to really turn the market round and that will depend on how the health crisis unfolds.

There will be further supply cuts as private sector producers respond to the low prices, but it’s hard to see that being on a sufficient scale to have a fundamental impact on the market.

For US drivers, the decline in oil prices – which have fallen by about two-thirds since the start of the year – has had an impact at the pumps.

“The silver lining is, if you for various reason actually need to be on the roads, you’re filling up for far less than you would have been even four months ago,” Mr Glickman said. “The problem for most of us is even if you could fill up, where are you gong to go?”

Meanwhile, concern continues to mount that storage facilities in the US will run out of capacity, with stockpiles at Cushing, the main delivery point in the US for oil, rising almost 50% since the start of March, according to ANZ Bank. “We hold some hope for a recovery later this year,” the bank said in its research note.

Mr Innes said: “It’s a dump at all cost as no one, and I mean no one, wants delivery of oil with Cushing storage facilities filling by the minute.”

X

Roof us

A couple of years ago in Exeter I met a homeless man from Dublin he was quite old and all he had was his travel suitcase. He was trying to settle by a supermarket. I could see he looked out of place as though he should not be there.

We got talking and he had ran out of money and needed help. He had an Irish state pension but did not get paid that night. He was in huge pain due to swelling in his feet to from what he said was a sevear beating he had taken in his youth that now meant walking was very painfull on swollen feet.

So I decided to get him to hospital and give him some money. I booked a taxi for him paid for the taxi directly with the driver when he arrived and then gave the man a £10 for his troubles and he went on his way.

I noramally wouId not have stopped or had money to give to him but I had just had a big win on the horses and so knew that giving £20 for him was neither here nor there to me and at that moment in time it meant the world to him.

I hoep that Dublin man is ok alive and has a roof over his head now.

How can you stay at home if you do not have one?

03/24/2020

By David Hennessy  

The manager of a West London soup kitchen has expressed concern for homeless people who cannot get their usual help because of lockdowns everywhere. 

Because they are “invisible and forgotten” they do not show up in statistics or GPs’ surgeries – meaning no-one knows how many of them are infected or how seriously. 

Andrew McLeay said Ealing Soup Kitchen which he manages, for instance, has been unable to provide its usual Friday service because the church from which is operates has been locked down.  

But the Salvation Army has been allowing their building to be used on Monday nights so the soup kitchen has been open one night a week for a takeaway service with minimal contact. 

Ealing Soup Kitchen has been operating an outreach service to get food, clothes, tents, sleeping bags and other essential items to those most in need without putting anyone at risk of infection.  

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and the Greater London authority say they have rented 300 hotel rooms in the capital to temporarily take rough sleepers off the streets in the interests of wider public health.  

But, said Mr McLeay, people who use services like his “will be forgotten” because they do not show up in any official statistics.  

He told The Irish World: “People are saying they’re going to do stuff but we’re yet to see it.  

“Apparently Julian Bell, the leader of the Ealing Council, is supposed to be helping sort out extending night shelters and things like that. 

“(But) we’ve actually seen numbers rise and they don’t look like they’re going down.  

“It really shouldn’t be so bad here – a posh, west London suburb – that 400 people have to come to a soup kitchen every week.  

“If they were getting stuff done then we wouldn’t need to serve as many people – but we do. 

“I’m just a little sceptical that they’re going to help the people that are really in most need.  

Usual service: Mary Whelan O’Neill dishes out the soup prior to the Covid-19 lockdown.

“The government is saying they’re going to requisition hotels, or office spaces, for the homeless. 

“(Then) last week they said they were going to do hostels as hospitals.  

“Which is it? There’s so many mixed messages. 

“What’s going to happen, inevitably, is that the homeless are going to get the short end of the stick because they always do.  

“People don’t care about them. They’re not part of any official statistics a lot of the time so they don’t care. If they have to release data, it won’t mention them so it will seem as though they‘ve done a good job. 

“It’s a mess.” 

With the soup kitchen no longer able to feed people as normal, it also precludes them from carrying out their more important work of finding accommodation for people. 

Losing its contact point – the soup kitchen – for their homeless clients means they cannot try to find accommodation for people on the streets, he said.

“The food is the thing that draws people in and it’s from that that we can get them housed and then get them back into society.  

“That’s one of the biggest strengths of this charity and that arm’s been taken away because now we’re not able to open to do the housing stuff. 

“They are the invisible people and they are the forgotten people. That’s a historical thing but it doesn’t have to be.” 

“Homeless people and rough sleepers don’t go to GPs very often, how would they know if they have pre-existing medical conditions? We just don’t know.  

“We have to be careful but at the same time we just don’t want to give up.  

“It’s got to be trying to mobilise as many people as possible for as long as we can because we all know eventually the game will be up and everyone is going to be in proper isolation, and we won’t be able to leave our homes. I want to be as active as possible while we can be.” 

There but for the grace of God go us!!

Bobs your Uncle

Well its 08:37 here and I am awake and pleased I got some sleep last night. I thought I would do a little post about my God Father, he was in a band in Liverpool called the Mojos and they had a top ten hit too. He was the drummer in the band and his name was Bobby Conrad. Unfortunately the Legend that is Bobby is no longer with us as death took his soul through a battle with bowl cancer a number of years ago. He taught me so much about how to be a good man and I am honored to have known him.

Bobby is the one standing in front of the word everything.

Well from one Bob to another good one that makes me look like a DJ, next tune is from Bob Marley another legend that is no longer with us.

How cool is this

For the record officer I don’t smoke skunk, cannabis, dope or pollen I am not saying that others can’t it just wrecks my head so not good for me. Unlike Guinness I am ok with that which is Vegan too.

There are lots of people around the world that are substance abuser’s but I think this is more of a product of an abusive environment than an abusive addictive personality. Give a person a life opportunity and they would have better things to do than be an alcoholic or druggie.

Dixie Chicks – Traveling Souldier

Standing my ground on my own two feet not going anywhere in a hurry

https://www.devonlive.com/news/celebs-tv/chef-james-martin-visits-devon-4031590

The fact that we are still here must count for something

For we are here in the now so the future has not happened and Gaia’s future is not preordained – yes we experience echo’s of future hopes and fears. Though we might fall too deep into the digital electrical Pandora box or make knowing choices of ignorance or bloody mindedness or tempt fate and death too. We can kill prophets along with murdering brothers, sisters, sons and daughters too. Don’t wish your own negative doings to God there are positive echos of a potential future as well as negative echos with a multiversal possibility of paths.

For a holy daughter Gaia who is now coming into bloom there is a covenant between man and God where we all have a choice of freedom of will, to do what we do. As we are not machines and such a time as us being enslaved into machines might also not come to pass!

So be careful how, where and why you tread your footprints on Gaia for no doubt you wish treading on someone else Dreams.

Good luck and God speed

Huwx

Beauty in the eye of the beholder

So hows your day going?

Just ate some kellogs crunchy nut cornflakes with a load of milk pored on top they were lush. Goner sit on my wooden chair and continue to type this message and then sip my cuppa tea.

A parrot just squawked down the road from where I live – true story
A beacon of hope
I took a photo of this framed Abbey Road Beatles Album cover that is in my bedroom window too.
A late update are we just dancing in the dark, sorry just went all serious ❤

Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaJump to navigationJump to search“CND” redirects here. For other uses, see CND (disambiguation).‹ The templateInfobox organization is being considered for merging. ›

The CND symbol, designed by Gerald Holtom in 1958. It has become a nearly universal peace symbol used in many different versions worldwide.[1]
AbbreviationCND
FormationNovember 1957; 62 years ago
LocationUnited Kingdom
Region servedUnited Kingdom
General SecretaryKate Hudson
ChairDave Webb
Vice-ChairCarol Turner
Hannah Tweddell
Daniel Blaney
Vice-PresidentBruce Kent
Caroline Lucas
Walter Wolfgang
Paul Oestreicher
Jeremy Corbyn[2]
Press and Communications OfficerIan Chamberlain
Websitecnduk.org
Anti-nuclear movement
By country
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Lists
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vte

The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) is an organisation that advocates unilateral nuclear disarmament by the United Kingdom, international nuclear disarmament and tighter international arms regulation through agreements such as the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. It opposes military action that may result in the use of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and the building of nuclear power stations in the UK.

CND began in November 1957 when a committee was formed, including Canon John Collins as chairman, Bertrand Russell as president and Peggy Duff as organising secretary. The committee organised CND’s first public meeting at Methodist Central Hall, Westminster, on 17 February 1958. Since then, CND has periodically been at the forefront of the peace movement in the UK. It claims to be Europe‘s largest single-issue peace campaign. Between 1958 and 1965 it organised the Aldermaston March, which was held over the Easter weekend from the Atomic Weapons Establishment near Aldermaston to Trafalgar Square, London.

Catch 22

I hope my meaning wont be lost or misconstrued
Mind how you go

What has happened when trying to tell a point of view or speaking your truth becomes a revolutionary act?

If you are reading this I just want to say thank you for reading my page and I am not your enemy so lets work together and create a better world for ourselves, our friends and our loved ones.

Thank you.

Tip don’t be custer.