Datasets:

rjac

/

all-the-news-2-1-Component-one

like 0

2020-03-31 00:00:00

2020

3.0

31

Dieter Bohn

Intel has its laptop work cut out this year

Even if you would never see yourself buying a gaming laptop, you should take the time to read Monica Chin’s review of the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14. There are a lot — I mean a LOT — of remarkable things about this laptop. First and foremost, it is running on the AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS chip, which runs at 35W with 8 cores at 3.0 GHz that can boost up to 4.4 GHz. In context, what that actually means is that it outclasses anything Intel has put into a laptop to date. I’ve been anticipating this release ever since Nilay Patel interviewed AMD CEO Lisa Su earlier this year. She talked big game then, and by all accounts her company has delivered. What’s most remarkable about this laptop is that by gaming laptop standards it is absolutely thin and light. You can get a build with a 120Hz display (at 1080p) and Monica say she’s getting nearly nine hours of battery life in regular day-to-day use. That’s unheard of. You’re reading Processor, a newsletter about computers by Dieter Bohn. Dieter writes about consumer tech, software, and the most important news of the day from The Verge. This newsletter delivers “mostly daily,” which nets out three to four times a week, some of which include longer columns. You can subscribe to Processor and learn more about it here. Processor is also a YouTube series with the same goal: providing smart and surprising analysis with a bit of humor. Subscribe to all of The Verge’s great videos here! Unfortunately, if like me you were thinking “Well I wanted to get into PC gaming so I’ll make this my main laptop,” you should know that it doesn’t come with a webcam. Which is a curious choice. Intel still has new 10th Gen chips due later this year that may compete, but as Monica wrote, “Asus and AMD have successfully put Intel on notice.” This isn’t the only difficult news Intel is facing this week. Acer is joining Asus in making laptops with AMD Ryzen 4000 mobile processors, too. And then there’s ongoing rumors of the Mac switching to ARM. The latest report from Ming-chi Kuo says that there will be “several” next year. If “several” means “at least three,” then that’s two more ARM-based Macs than I figured Apple would release to start. If it’s true, it’s a very aggressive transition plan coming just one year after a bunch of people will have purchased new MacBooks because they were holding out for better keyboards. Something to watch for! It’s not all bummer news for Intel, though. After flirting with ARM for years, it seems like all the decent Chromebooks run Intel now. And Samsung’s Galaxy Chromebook hits shelves April 6th. This laptop is the latest test to see if there’s demand for a high-end Chromebook — the first since the Pixelbook. In fact, I think it’s fair to say Google chose not to rev the Pixelbook and instead put that effort into helping Samsung out with this. As for whether it will be a successful test, well, first we have to review it and see if it’s any good. My main concern during the hands-on was screen wobble when typing. I am rooting for it if only because I love the color so much — fewer gray laptops more intense colors like this red please. If you’re hoping to get a deal on new releases like Doom: Eternal for PS4 or Xbox One, your best bet right now is to take advantage of Target’s buy two, get one free promotion. Several games are included in the sale, like Control, Borderlands 3, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, and more. As is usually the case with these promos, you’ll get the game of lesser value for free. Or, if you buy two games for $60 each, you can get a third fully-priced game for free. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links. For more information, see our ethics policy. Prices displayed are based on the MSRP at time of posting. ┏ Microsoft aims to win back consumers with new Microsoft 365 subscriptions. You could make the case that this was the most important thing that happened in tech yesterday and I wouldn’t necessarily argue. Microsoft’s smart to get this subscription out of the headspace of Office and into the general consumer headspace. When it comes to value for money, Microsoft’s subscription that gets you a bunch of OneDrive storage, access to Office apps, and a few spiffy add-ons is better than what Google and Apple have on offer. I’ll be very curious to see if there’s consumer uptake on Microsoft Teams, too. I tend to doubt it — but the coronavirus has more people than ever using enterprise tools like Zoom for non-business use. ┏ Microsoft’s new Edge vertical tabs look ideal for 16:9 screens. ┏ OnePlus 8 to be announced on April 14th, and the latest OnePlus 8 leaks reveal “Interstellar Glow” and other colors. ┏ Good Job! lets you chaotically smash through your office complex from home. ┏ Resident Evil 3 remake is fun while it lasts. ┏ Apple launches COVID-19 screening app and website. ┏ Google aims to donate more than 2 million face masks to the CDC. ┏ Google cancels its infamous April Fools’ jokes this year. I know some people will call me a buzzkill but truly: don’t bring it back. ┏ Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant can now help you diagnose COVID-19. ┏ Amazon warehouse workers walk out in rising tide of COVID-19 protests. Josh Dzieza reports: Amazon has a strong infrastructure for keeping its warehouse employees informed. For example, when the company announces mandatory overtime, Palmer points out, the company sends out texts and emails to every worker. “With this incident, they have not sent out one text — nothing at all,” Palmer says. ┏ A new COVID-19 test can return results in 5 minutes. Good news, and the new test could increase US testing capacity by 50 percent. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean we are testing enough yet. Commercial and state labs are now running upwards of 100,000 tests per day, but the US is still running fewer tests per capita than many other countries. ┏ US government officials using mobile ad location data to study coronavirus spread. One example of how the anonymized data was reportedly used: Researchers discovered large numbers of people were gathering in a New York City park, and notified local authorities. ┏ Detroit auto show canceled as FEMA prepares venue to be a field hospital for COVID-19. ┏ The entire world is streaming more than ever — and it’s straining the internet. ┏ Sony is now slowing down PlayStation downloads in the US. ┏ Microsoft tweaks Xbox and Teams services during 775 percent surge in cloud demand. ┏ NASA tasks SpaceX with sending cargo and supplies to future lunar space station. ┏ OneWeb files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. It has 74 satellites in orbit. Gonna need to deal with that.

https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/31/21200719/intel-vs-amd-vs-arm-laptops-2020

Tech

The Verge

2020-03-31 00:00:00

2020

3.0

31

Cameron Faulkner

A new Humble Bundle offers tons of great games to raise money to fight COVID-19

Only the best deals on Verge-approved gadgets get the Verge Deals stamp of approval, so if you're looking for a deal on your next gadget or gift from major retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, Target, and more, this is the place to be. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links. For more information, see our ethics policy. If you’ve been wanting to support organizations that are helping to supply those fighting on the front lines against the novel coronavirus, the latest Humble Bundle is a good opportunity to do just that. You can pay anything you want, but you’ll need to pay $30 in order to get the full bounty of PC games available (DRM-free or Steam keys), as well as several ebooks and digital comics (available in several formats), and some software. That $30 gets you a bunch of top games, including Into The Breach, Hollow Knight, Undertale, Wizard of Legend, Totally Accurate Battle Simulator, The Witness, Superhot, Killing Floor 2, Jackbox Party Pack 2, Tropico 4, and several other titles. The ebooks cover a range of topics like mindfulness and coping, as well as Saga Volume 1, The Boys Volume 1, along with a few more digital comics. The pack even includes crosswords and Music Maker EDM Edition, so you can make some beats while you’re at home. Humble Bundle: Conquer COVID-19 It’s always good to be charitable, but this is an especially good time to consider giving some money. You’ll be helping to fund organizations that are in desperate need of help during this time, which in turn helps to equip the people assisting those suffering from COVID-19. In return, you’ll feel good about yourself and load up on plenty of games and books to remain occupied while you continue to self-isolate.

https://www.theverge.com/good-deals/2020/3/31/21201818/humble-bundle-coronavirus-games-ebooks-comics-charity

Good Deals

The Verge

2020-03-31 00:00:00

2020

3.0

31

Nick Statt

Wyze firmware update lets you turn its security cameras into webcams

Smart home gadget maker Wyze has released a firmware update and set of instructions for turning its low-cost security camera into a working webcam at a time when proper webcams from brands like Logitech are increasingly hard to find. The update, which was released roughly an hour ago on Wyze’s support website, involves manually installing firmware onto your Wyze camera that will temporarily turn it into a webcam, after which it will no longer connect to the Wyze app and function normally. However, Wyze says you can reverse the process to restore security camera access to the device and have it function normally again. The instructions say you’ll need a Wyze Cam v2, a microSD card, and a USB-A to USB-A cable for transferring the free firmware update from your computer to the camera. According to Wyze, all you need to do is drop the firmware onto the root directory of the memory card, plug the memory card into an unplugged Wyze Cam v2, and then hold the setup button while restarting to flash the firmware onto the camera and reboot it as a webcam. From there, you should be able to plug the device into your Mac or Windows machine (being careful to use the USB-A port of the device and not the microUSB power port) and manually select it as a third-party HD output video source for applications like BlueJeans, Google Hangouts, Skype, and Zoom, among other providers. It’s not an elegant solution, and I’m having trouble actually getting it to work on my own Wyze Cam here at home. That may have something to do with only having access to a formatted microSD I use for external storage on my Nintendo Switch. (One solution there might be copying the files off, formatting the card, installing the firmware, and formatting again for the Switch before transferring the files back.) Regardless, for those in need of a webcam who are having trouble finding one right now due to the COVID-19 pandemic that has office workers worldwide working from home, this could be a solution if you have the necessary gadgets lying around the house.

https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/31/21202022/wyze-firmware-update-webcam-security-camera-transform-solution-guide

Smart Home

The Verge

2020-03-31 00:00:00

2020

3.0

31

Jay Peters

Apple acquires popular weather app Dark Sky and will shut down the Android version

Apple has acquired popular weather app Dark Sky and will be shutting down the Dark Sky Android and Wear OS apps in July, Dark Sky announced in a blog post today. “Our goal has always been to provide the world with the best weather information possible, to help as many people as we can stay dry and safe, and to do so in a way that respects your privacy,” Dark Sky co-founder Adam Grossman writes in the post. “There is no better place to accomplish these goals than at Apple. We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to reach far more people, with far more impact, than we ever could alone.” There aren’t any changes coming to Dark Sky for iOS “at this time,” and you can still buy it on the App Store right now for $3.99. But you won’t be able to download the Android and Wear OS apps anymore, and if you already have them, you’ll only be able to use them until July 1st before they’re entirely shut down. If you still have an active subscription by that date, you’ll receive a refund, according to Grossman. Dark Sky’s API will continue to function “through the end of 2021,” but Grossman says Dark Sky won’t be accepting new signups to use the API. That means that, eventually, third-party apps won’t be able to use Dark Sky’s weather data in their own apps. You’ll also only be able to view weather forecasts, maps, and embeds on Dark Sky’s website until July 1st. The website will stay up after that date “in support of API and iOS App customers.” Dark Sky’s branding on its website has already been updated to “Dark Sky by Apple.”

https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/31/21201666/apple-acquires-weather-app-dark-sky-shut-down-android-wear-os-ios

Apple

The Verge

2020-03-31 00:00:00

2020

3.0

31

Aliya Chaudhry

How to send private messages and make calls in Slack

Slack is a popular workplace instant-messaging tool. But that doesn’t mean it only has to be for work. You can use Slack for whatever you’d like — keeping up with friends, sharing recipes, organizing activities, and so on. Although Slack is largely intended for group collaboration, it also has tools if you just want to chat one-on-one with people. There are a couple of different ways you can do that: Slack also has a built-in calling feature. On the free version, you can do voice and video calls, but only with one other person. If you have a subscription to one of Slack’s paid plans, you can also do group calls with up to 15 people and share your screen on a video call. To start a call on Slack: Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links. For more information, see our ethics policy.

https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/31/21196905/slack-call-private-message-how-to-tools-steps

How-to

The Verge

2020-03-31 00:00:00

2020

3.0

31

Thomas Ricker

Muto e-bike review: multipurpose excellence

For Europeans, a bicycle is often the primary mode of transportation in relatively flat, bike-friendly cities like Amsterdam, Copenhagen, or Berlin. We ride our bikes everywhere — to work, shops, daycare, and cafes — before locking them up outside each night. We use our bikes to carry groceries, kids, and Christmas trees, sometimes all at the same time, while friends straddle the rear carrier to hitch a ride. In such an environment, the perfect e-bike has to be affordable, adaptable, durable, and easily serviceable. It should also be as attractive as the young European professionals who are increasingly buying e-bikes for the purposes of a healthier, more environmentally friendly commute. Lots of e-bikes tick some of those boxes, but I’ve yet to find one that ticks every box needed for daily commuting in my home city of Amsterdam. Until now. It’s made, surprisingly, by Stella — a Dutch company known for making utterly forgettable e-bikes loved by grandparents. Three years ago, Stella tasked a small internal team with shedding its stodgy image by designing an e-bike that would appeal to young urbanites. The result is called Muto, a pedal-assisted electric bike that has the potential to become the default e-bike for Europe and beyond. More new e-bikes are sold in the Netherlands than regular bikes, and Muto’s parent company Stella claims to sell more than any other brand. The 10-year-old Dutch bike maker, headquartered in Nunspeet, about 50 miles east of Amsterdam, had been assembling about 600 e-bikes a day prior to the coronavirus pandemic. Notably, Muto has a removable battery that neatly integrates (and locks) into the downtube. Most Stella bikes suffer from bolton-exia — a condition native to e-bike makers bad at design. Symptoms include bulbous growths on the downtube (Rad Power!) or lazy slabs of lithium resting on rear carriers (Swagtron!). Muto has none of that. It’s clear that Muto’s designers sweated every last detail. As such, Muto gives Stella access to a booming new market of young urban commuters. It’s more than just a new bike; it’s a new brand that relies on a new European manufacturer that manages distribution from Venlo, not Nunspeet, a Dutch town along the German border. Muto’s first e-bike has typical base-level specs for Europe: a 250W motor with 25 km/h (15.5 mph) top speed and a 70km (43.5 mile) estimated range when set to medium power, or 40 km (24.9 miles) when set to max, according to Muto. The 252Wh battery recharges to full in about 3.5 hours. I was able to conduct a single endurance test, taking the battery from 100 percent to zero over a distance of 31.2km (19.4 miles). Although the test was conducted over flat terrain, it was a very windy (15-knot average) day. Fortunately, the bike was very easy to pedal home the last 2.8 km (about 1.7 miles) under my own power, thanks to the near-frictionless drivetrain and 8-speed shifter. But the ride is the least interesting part of owning a Muto. The name “Muto” is a play on words like “metamorphosis” and “multipurpose” hinting at the e-bike’s unmatched ability to adapt. To start, the big M logo is more than a nod to the name; it’s also the shape of the frame. The step-through M-frame is suitable for riders ranging from 159cm to 190cm tall (5 feet, 2 inches to 6 feet, 2 inches), which covers 80 percent of Europeans, according to Muto. The aluminum is glued like an aircraft, not welded, for a seamless look. It’s available in black, gray, blue, and white. The black frame is my preference, while the gray frame looks especially gloomy, like a glossy coat of furniture primer. My review bike came with the tall seat post, which was fine for my 183cm (6-foot) frame. I was also able to comfortably use the shorter post. My wife, who measures 164 cm (5 feet, 5 inches), tested the bike with the short saddle and found the lowest setting on the high side despite being three inches (7.6 cm) taller than Muto’s stated minimum. The saddle is very comfortable over long distances although the default riding position is quite sporty. The handlebar can be adjusted higher for those who prefer a more upright riding style. Muto’s biggest innovation, though, is with the interchangeable “Click & Roll” system. It lets you quickly add or remove a wide variety of Muto-designed boxes, bags, and carriers to the front and rear of the bike. The mounts can be locked with a key to prevent theft. Headed to the office? Snap Muto’s sleek €59,95 Chameleon Bamboo carrier onto the back to hold Muto’s waterproof €69.95 Starfish pannier stuffed with your laptop, lunch, and rain gear. When you return home, leave the computer bag behind, move the carrier to the front, and snap the €65 Urban Iki rear child seat onto the back. A bar integrated into the frame folds back over the rear fender to support the weight of your kid. The video above shows nine configurations in just 69 seconds. Yes, new parents, that means you can easily leave the child seat at home on date night, allowing you to maintain some semblance of pride when pulling up outside that trendy new cocktail bar. At launch, Muto is available with five different custom-designed carriers of varying sizes and five different bags. Muto says more accessories are on the way. Muto is built tough. The e-bike weighs 23.5 kg (51.8 pounds) before all of the accessories are added. Its slightly smaller 26-inch wheels are ideal for cities and come fitted with Schwalbe Big Apple tires that are wide enough to glide across tram rails and ruts. Shimano hydraulic disc brakes stop the bike assuredly, even when loaded down with an adult, child, and a few days’ worth of groceries. A sturdy center-mount stand keeps the bike upright when it’s time to step away. To test the durability of the Click & Roll system, I took my daughter, who weighs 40 kilograms (88 pounds) for a ride while sitting in the Chameleon carrier attached at the rear. Muto says the rear carrier is rated for 20 kg (10 kg at the front) or 27 kg with child seat. Nevertheless, it held up, even though her body position created a powerful lever force on the mount as we bounced along Amsterdam’s cobbled roads. The brake and gear cables are semi-exposed but mostly routed through the frame in order to avoid snagging when parked in crowded bike racks. The cable management also gives the bike a clean, finished look. Muto is only sold online. That means no local bike shop to complain to when something goes wrong. Fortunately, outside of the front-hub motor and electronics, most of Muto’s components are repairable by any bike shop. Muto’s parent company Stella has over 45 bike shops in the Netherlands and is opening its first stores in Belgium and Germany this year. 24/7 roadside assistance is available in select countries when purchasing insurance through Muto (more on that later). And you’ll definitely want insurance if you’re planning to leave your expensive electric city bike parked outside. Fortunately, Muto’s drivetrain consists of a maintenance-free Gates carbon belt drive and Nexus 8 internal geared hub. That means eight speeds with no rust, no derailleur, no external lubrication, and no splatter on your trousers. Muto offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and standard two-year warranty. If the electronics or motor fails, you can contact Muto for repairs, which might involve a pickup and return in a specially designed Muto return box. Individual parts with instructions can be ordered directly from Muto. While that sounds obvious, it’s not so easy when buying €500 e-bikes off Amazon or Indiegogo. Muto is an e-bike you’ll keep for years, not until the first breakdown. Muto is being offered for an introductory price of €1,549 (plus shipping) that jumps to €1,699 at some undefined point in the future. That’s not cheap, but it’s also not expensive — it’s right in the sweet spot for what you should expect to pay for a good-quality electric city bike that can hold up to daily use for years. Muto can be purchased anywhere, but it’s prioritizing four European countries at launch. Shipping to the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany costs €30, or €49 to Denmark. You can also buy it from the US, but delivering it could be costly since Muto hasn’t made any overseas shipping arrangements yet. Muto comes with a real-wheel lock integrated into the frame. However, it doesn’t offer any kind of GPS theft recovery found on more premium bikes. Instead, Stella has partnered with Kingpolis insurance in the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium. The insurance costs about €8 per month, depending upon location, and can be terminated after the first year. It covers bike theft, damage, and 24/7 breakdown assistance in Europe. The base Muto comes with a ton of features you have to pay extra for from other brands. These include a simple bell, mudguards, reflectors, and integrated front and rear lighting, including adorable little “Muto” lights on the side of the bike. The lights cannot be turned off as a matter of safety, according to the company. If you’re buying a Muto, then you’ll definitely be buying some of the carrier accessories. Fortunately, those are also reasonably priced, but you’ll have to pay between €5 and €10 to have them shipped. Muto bikes are available now to test-ride in Amsterdam, with Berlin and Copenhagen pop-ups coming soon. To start with, the control pad mounted on the handlebar that shows the battery and power levels is hard to push. For my riding preference, the issue is exasperated by the need to push the top button seven times every time the bike turns on in order to get it back into max power mode. (It would ideally remember the last setting.) Muto supports nine pedal-assisted power modes, which feels like five too many on the road. Muto doesn’t offer any type of app integration, which is fine by me. Power is delivered quietly and evenly to the pedals. I rode my test Muto almost exclusively in max-power mode as the lower power modes require more effort than I’m willing to expend (exercise!) on an e-bike. Getting the bike started relies almost exclusively on leg power. That’s because Muto is only fitted with a cadence sensor to determine when to engage the motor, as opposed to a more sophisticated (and expensive) torque sensor that delivers power more intuitively. It’s fine: the gears shift smoothly and reliably. Muto also lacks a throttle as you probably guessed. If you’re looking for a hulking 700-watt vehicle that rides like a moped, then Muto isn’t the e-bike for you. So-called “speed pedelecs” must be ridden on streets alongside cars in much of Europe, instead of the safety of bike paths, making them impractical for use as city bikes. Muto does have walk support, though. Pushing the lower button on the control pad turns on the motor to provide enough power to easily push the bike up special bike ramps found next to the stairwells in European train stations, for example. I also have a modest concern with Muto quality control. The first test bike I received appeared to have a slightly warped disc brake, which caused the front wheel to rub somewhat while riding. I couldn’t see the warp, but I could hear it, and a €1,500 bike should ride silently, even on the cobbled roads of Amsterdam. Then, on my replacement bike, I found the rear-wheel lock difficult to close. It sounds minor, but the annoyance builds to a crescendo when you’re struggling with it a few times every day. I should note that my bikes were classified as pre-production bikes, near the final stage of development before mass production begins. At least one bike was also used by another reviewer before I received it. That might explain the hardware issues, or might not. The issues were minor, and I might not even mention them if the bike cost €750. But at twice that price a buyer should expect more. Regardless, if you’re interested in buying, you might want to wait a few weeks to ensure Muto works out any bugs that might exist in its manufacturing and assembly process. Muto is a fantastic e-bike designed for city dwellers who use, or want to use, bicycles as their primary mode of transportation. It’s so good, with so many thoughtful features available at such a reasonable price, that it could very well become the Toyota Camry or VW Golf of electric bikes. If you’re in Europe and in the market to buy an e-bike, Muto should be near the top of the list for consideration. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links. For more information, see our ethics policy.

https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/31/21199370/muto-review-electric-bike-price-features

Reviews

The Verge

2020-03-31 00:00:00

2020

3.0

31

Tom Warren

Microsoft’s new scrolling News Bar app brings your PC back to the ‘90s

Microsoft has created a scrolling news bar app for Windows 10. It sits above the Windows taskbar and provides scrolling 24/7 news from more than 4,500 publications alongside customizable stock information. It’s very similar to scrolling news apps we used to see in the ‘90s for Windows PCs, and it was developed by Microsoft’s internal News team (formerly MSN News). Microsoft is releasing the News Bar app as a beta for Windows 10 user this week. The settings panel has a fair amount of customization. You can position the bar at the top, bottom, left, or right-hand side of a screen and pick between images or text for news items. It also supports multiple monitors, and can be minimized if it’s distracting. You can’t customize the news, though. It’s simply top regional news, rather than the ability to follow particular topics. The app also doesn’t respect your default browser preferences, and opens links in Microsoft’s Edge browser. There’s also no clear way to exit out of the app without first minimizing it and then closing it from the taskbar. If you simply minimizing the scrolling news it will reappear by default in two hours unless you’ve adjusted this setting to eight hours or never. If you’re interested in trying out the scrolling News Bar app it’s available in the Microsoft Store free of charge.

https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/31/21199788/microsoft-news-bar-app-windows-scrolling-news-features

Microsoft

The Verge

2020-03-31 00:00:00

2020

3.0

31

Jon Porter

Grammarly now integrates directly with Microsoft Word’s Mac app

Grammarly, a service designed to give you advice on improving your writing, is getting an add-in for Microsoft Word’s Mac app, as well as for Microsoft Word online. Previously Mac users had to use a native Grammarly app or online Grammarly Editor, or else rely on the service’s browser extension. The service already has an add-on for Microsoft Word on Windows. The announcement means Grammarly will be able to offer writing suggestions without you having to leave the Word document you’re writing on a Mac or in a browser. Suggestions will appear to the right of the page, and you can click them to have them automatically apply to your writing. As well as helping with spelling and grammar, Grammarly is also designed to help you make your writing clearer, or offer up better words to use. Grammarly is available as a free service, but it also has a Premium tier available for between $11.66 and $29.95 a month. While the free version offers suggestions on grammar, spelling, punctuation, and conciseness, stepping up to premium means it will offer advice on more areas, and can even check for plagiarism. A full list of the places where Grammarly is available can be found on its site.

https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/31/21200923/grammarly-microsoft-word-mac-online-grammar-suggestions-writing

Apple

The Verge

2020-03-31 00:00:00

2020

3.0

31

Monica Chin

Zoom isn’t actually end-to-end encrypted

Zoom states on its website and in its security white paper that it supports end-to-end encryption for its meetings. But new research from The Intercept reveals that’s not exactly true. The Intercept asked a Zoom spokesperson whether video meetings that take place on the platform are end-to-end encrypted, and the spokesperson said that “Currently, it is not possible to enable E2E encryption for Zoom video meetings.” Zoom does use TLS encryption, the same standard that web browsers use to secure HTTPS websites. In practice, that means that data is encrypted between you and Zoom’s servers, similar to Gmail or Facebook content. But the term end-to-end encryption typically refers to protecting content between the users entirely with no company access at all, similar to Signal or WhatsApp. Zoom does not offer that level of encryption, making the use of “end-to-end” highly misleading. Zoom, however, denies that it’s misleading users. The company told The Intercept, “When we use the phrase ‘End to End’ in our other literature, it is in reference to the connection being encrypted from Zoom end point to Zoom end point,” and that “content is not decrypted as it transfers across the Zoom cloud.” Zoom’s in-meeting text chat does appear to support E2E; Zoom said it does not have the keys to decrypt those messages. Zoom also told The Intercept that it only collects user data that it needs to improve its service, including IP addresses, OS details, and device details, and doesn’t allow employees to access the specific content of meetings. It also said that it doesn’t sell user data of any kind. However, it’s possible that the company could be compelled to hand over meeting recordings for legal proceedings. Zoom did not respond to a request for comment.

https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/31/21201234/zoom-end-to-end-encryption-video-chats-meetings

Tech

The Verge

2020-03-31 00:00:00

2020

3.0

31

Jay Peters

How to get started with Zoom

While many companies are already using the videoconferencing app Zoom for business meetings, interviews, and other purposes, individuals who are facing long days without contact with friends and family are moving to Zoom for face-to-face and group get-togethers. This is a quick guide for those who haven’t tried Zoom yet, featuring tips on how to get started using its free version. One thing to keep in mind: while one-to-one video calls can go as long as you want, any group calls on Zoom are limited to 40 minutes. If you want to have longer talks without interruption, you can either pay for Zoom’s Pro plan ($14.99 a month), or try an alternative videoconferencing app. (Note: there have been reports that the 40 minutes is sometimes extended — at least one staffer from The Verge found that an evening meeting with five friends was sent an extension when time started running out — but there has been no official word of any change from Zoom.) The first thing to do, of course, is to register for the service. You can do this either from your laptop or from your mobile phone. We’ll cover the web service first. If you sign up for Zoom using the mobile app, the process is similar to how it is on the web. (We tested the sign up process using the iOS app.) Once you have an account, you can invite people to a Zoom meeting a few different ways. If you’re using the desktop or mobile apps, click or tap on the Meetings tab. From there: You can also invite people to your meeting while you’re already in it: Once you’re up and running on Zoom, make sure to check out our guides for how to find keyboard shortcuts, change your Zoom background (here are a few free backgrounds you can use), and how to prevent your Zoom meeting from being taken over by trolls. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links. For more information, see our ethics policy. Update March 31st, 7:17PM ET: Added context about a Zoom security issue involving some email domains.

https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/31/21197215/how-to-zoom-free-account-get-started-register-sign-up-log-in-invite

How-to

The Verge

2020-03-31 00:00:00

2020

3.0

31

Julia Alexander

Streaming comes to fill a sports-sized hole in the world

The cost of sports coming to a standstill around the world because of the novel coronavirus is somewhere in the billions of dollars. The leagues have lost revenue, and the cable networks have lost hundreds of millions of dollars on advertising revenue from not having games to carry. And sports fans have lost a sense of normalcy; for the first time in memory, there aren’t any major games airing for people to watch. But fans are still able to recreate a sense of normalcy by watching old games. And so streaming platforms, typically defined by general entertainment like movies and television, are having their big sports moment. “Normalcy is escapist,” ESPN host Mina Kimes told NPR. “That sounds crazy and contradictory, but I think it’s true when it comes to sports. “ Traditional TV networks are trying to work with the leagues to air old games for customers to watch. Networks like Fox and ESPN have aired past Super Bowl games, using social networks like Instagram to turn the replays into mini-events during an unconventional period. But “each one of these circumstances requires individual conversations with the specific league,” according to Burke Magnus, executive vice president of programming acquisitions and scheduling at ESPN. Everyone is clamoring to fill empty time slots. But streaming plaforms like NBA League Pass ($28.99 per month) and NFL Game Pass ($99 a season) are being offered for free right now, and have full libraries of old games on demand, because they’re owned by the leagues themselves. They’ve become a hangout for basketball and football fans to revisit memorable games. The NFL saw “500 times the average number of daily sign-ups for Game Pass,” within the first three hours of Game Pass being free, according to the Wall Street Journal. YouTube and Twitch are also being used by various leagues to stream old games, including MLB, MLS, and the NHL. One day after 3/28, Tom Brady is watching the Patriots beat the Falcons in Super Bowl LI @brgridiron pic.twitter.com/lpdca44oBK Twitter is full of people rewatching their favorite Super Bowl seasons or NBA championship games, and reliving that experience while at home. People are watching games with friends and other fans over Zoom. It’s impossible to create new memories watching current games right now, but fans are using digital platforms to keep the spirits of sports alive. Streaming services like NBA League Pass and NFL Game Pass have the advantage of being platforms where people can choose what they want to watch, whenever they want. They also have documentary series and additional behind-the-scenes content. They weren’t designed for it, but they’re perfect for serving sports fans stuck at home, and stuck online. Streaming isn’t going to replace traditional sports broadcasting anytime soon. AT&T and Disney paid around $24 billion to ensure they have contracts with the NBA in a nine-year deal, according to Variety. NBC, CBS, and Fox are reportedly paying $3.1 billion combined for Sunday night NFL games. ESPN is reportedly paying around $1.9 billion for Monday Night Football games. Live sports accounted for 89 percent of the 100-most watched broadcasts in 2018, according to Ad Age. ESPN is also trying to serve customers by moving up the release date of its highly anticipated Michael Jordan 10-part documentary series. Still, this could be a turning point for platforms like League Pass and Game Pass, as well as digital avenues for other sports leagues. The leagues’ streaming platforms are running high right now. The real dilemma they’ll face once things return to normal is how many people taking advantage of the free offer right now will convert to paying subscribers. Streaming could become more than just a moment right now for the leagues, or wind up as temporary band-aid used to patch things up until everything goes back to normal.

https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/31/21197024/streaming-nba-leaguepass-nf-game-coronavirus-mlb-nhl-sports-espn

Entertainment

The Verge

2020-03-31 00:00:00

2020

3.0

31

Natt Garun

Grubhub’s $10 off promo screws over restaurants in crisis by making them front the costs

Grubhub announced last week that, between the hours of 5 to 9 PM, customers could order takeout or delivery through its platform and receive $10 off orders of $30 or more. It sounds like a good deal, until you realize that while Grubhub is promoting the offer on behalf on restaurants, it’s also contractually forcing those business owners to eat the cost of that discount for every eligible order. (Disclosure: my parents are restaurant owners that list their business on Grubhub / Seamless.) Under Grubhub’s Supper for Support program terms and conditions, the fine print says that while restaurants must opt into the program, they also have to agree to fund the $10 discounts — or roughly 30 percent off the cost of one order if the customer just meets the $30 minimum. On top of that, they must allow Grubhub to charge them commission for the total cost of the order before the discount. The full agreement is here, but the key passage reads: I also understand and agree that (a) Restaurant will fund the full cost of redeemed Promotions, and (b) Grubhub commissions may be charged on the non-discounted product total rather than the amount paid by the customer. If the business owners want to opt out, they have to send in a form for every location if the restaurant has multiple locations, and wait two days for processing. Though Grubhub is upfront with businesses about the terms, the move is being criticized as an attempt to profiteer from business partners that are struggling under the nationwide measures to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus. Restaurants have been forced by these measures to indefinitely close or to reduce their service to takeout and delivery only. To continue operating, businesses have had to rely on online services like Grubhub, Doordash, Caviar, Postmates, and UberEats to assist with orders and deliveries, although many restaurants are urging customers to help them avoid fees by ordering direct. (Grubhub says it will postpone charging commission fees to independent restaurants in select cities, but will eventually still collect them at an undisclosed time.) Grubhub strongarming client restaurants into giving customers a discount, but charging restaurants their platform commission fee on the pre-discount total. Totally cool, not dickish, not predatory in a time of crisis at all. A++ @Grubhub nice work, totally defensible https://t.co/VBiQPbtmyk When reached for comment, Grubhub told The Verge the promotion is helping boost sales for restaurants. “Grubhub is always looking for ways to increase sales for its independent restaurant partners, especially during these critical and challenging times. The optional Supper and Support effort does exactly that. In fact, local restaurants that chose to participate in the optional initiative have, on average, seen a more than 20 percent increase in the number of orders they have received as well as overall sales,” a spokesperson said. The company did not elaborate on why it has chosen to pass on the discount costs to restaurants while also billing commission fees on the non-discounted total. The coronavirus pandemic has devastated the restaurant industry with no end in sight, leaving restaurants with few options. Though the US has passed a federal loan program to help keep small businesses afloat, loanees are still expected to pay the money back with interest. Provisions for loan forgiveness include rehiring full-time employees by June — a seemingly difficult task in states hardest hit by the pandemic like New York, New Jersey, California, and Washington. Grubhub’s Supper for Support promo comes days after Yelp was also criticized by restaurant owners for using the crisis as a PR move. The online reviews site last week began setting up GoFundMe campaigns for small businesses, but failed to inform or receive consent from those businesses. Both Grubhub and Yelp have been in hot waters over the past year after employing various tactics to upcharge businesses commission, from creating fake domains that resemble real restaurants, listing restaurants that haven’t yet agree to partner, and swapping out phone numbers for Grubhub-affiliated ones to bill higher commissions.

https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/31/21201039/grubhub-10-off-promo-supper-for-support-restaurants-discount-full-commission-coronavirus-closure

Apps

The Verge

2020-03-31 00:00:00

2020

3.0

31

Sean O'Kane

Trump rolls back Obama fuel economy rule, increasing emissions during a climate crisis

Donald Trump has finally gotten one of the longstanding wishes of his presidency: the weakening of an Obama-era fuel economy standard that made new cars more fuel efficient and more environmentally friendly. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency announced a new rule on Tuesday that will take its place, one that will increase pollution while the world wrestles with a respiratory virus pandemic and a climate crisis. Under the new rule, automakers will now have to increase the average fuel economy of their new vehicle fleets by 1.5 percent every year through their 2026 model year lineup, ultimately arriving at an average of around 40 miles per gallon. Under the previous rule — which the EPA under Obama found automakers were “over-complying” with in 2016 — automakers had to increase the average fuel economy of their fleets by 5 percent, with the goal of hitting 54 miles per gallon in the 2026 model year cars. As the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) points out, the Obama-era standard has already helped cut carbon dioxide emissions by half a billion metric tons, and saved drivers $86 billion in fuel costs, according to EPA’s own data. The new standard, meanwhile, is expected to release one billion metric tons more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, increase gasoline consumption by around 80 billion gallons, and oil consumption by 2 billion barrels — all at a time when the transportation industry is already the world’s leading source of CO2 emissions. “We’re watching, in real time, the crippling consequences of President Donald Trump’s weakening of our nation’s health and safety standards,” California attorney general Xavier Becerra said on a call with reporters Tuesday. “It’s become pretty obvious that his backsliding on so many important regulations that protect our health and our environment are having real consequences now.” The Trump administration’s argument in support of the rollback is, essentially, this: New cars have gotten more expensive as they got more fuel efficient, which has forced more people to either buy used cars or stick with the ones they already own. Since older cars aren’t equipped with the kinds of modern safety features found on new ones, they’re less safe. Lowering the fuel economy standard will reduce the upfront cost of a new vehicle by around $1,000, meaning more people will be able to buy newer, safer cars. It’s a flawed argument for a number of reasons. For one thing, the administration has given basically no consideration to the fact that average vehicle prices have risen in the US because automakers now heavily favor selling more expensive — and, crucially, more profitable — SUVs and trucks, to the point that many of them are practically removing sedans from their lineups altogether. While most consumers would likely appreciate a cheaper sticker price, some experts believe that the new rule would ultimately cost them more over the life of these cars. Consumer Reports recently did an analysis that that showed that even if gas prices fall to $1.50 per gallon and stay there for the next 30 years, the rollback “would still increase new vehicle total cost of ownership for consumers.” There also seems to be no guarantee that the lower cost of fuel economy technology required to meet the new standard will get passed onto consumers in the form of that $1,000 savings. When asked about this during a call with reporters, NHTSA’s acting administrator James Owens said it will basically be up to automakers to use that extra headroom to compete on price. “We have the force of competition in our country, and at the end of the day, American families will make the their buying decisions based on many different factors, and our automakers will continue, we hope will continue, to compete for those sales,” he said. The Trump administration has also given little consideration during this three-year process to the fact that, since newer cars now tend to be bigger vehicles, pushing more consumers into these vehicles will directly increase the risk to pedestrians, who have been dying at an alarming rate amid the boom of SUVs and trucks. This should come as no surprise. Trump’s attempt to roll back the Obama-era standard has been built on flimsy and misleading arguments from the start. When the EPA first officially claimed the Obama-era standard was too aggressive in April 2018, for example, it based that argument on auto industry lobbyist talking points and (what was then) two-year old data. “[EPA administrator Andrew Wheeler] issued a tweet saying that this new rule would save lives, and reduce pollution, and that it would provide significant benefits to the American economy. In each case, he’s wrong,” Becerra said Tuesday. “We’re prepared to debunk” that, he said. The new rule announced by NHTSA and the EPA on Tuesday isn’t as harsh a rollback as Trump originally wanted. When the Trump EPA unveiled its first official proposed version of the rule in 2018, it suggested freezing the planned year-over-year gains in fuel economy at their 2020 levels, which would have capped the required gains at 37 miles per gallon. While automakers started lobbying Trump to roll back the standard within days of him taking office, even they balked at a full freeze. They’ve since split in their alliances. Volkswagen, Ford, Honda, and BMW each struck a deal last year with California to commit to 3.7 percent year-over-year increases in average fuel economy, while General Motors, Toyota, and Fiat Chrysler filed support for the Trump administration concurrent attempt to revoke California’s authority to set its own vehicle emissions standards — standards that around a dozen other states already follow. The rollback is now likely to face what could be a lengthy challenge in court from states and environmental groups. “Gutting the clean car standards makes no sense. It will harm the air we breathe, stall progress in fighting the climate crisis and increase the cost of driving,” Gina McCarthy, who led the EPA under Obama and is now president of the NRDC, said in a statement. “I am hoping that automakers know better than to go along with this illegal, ill-conceived and dangerous rollback. The clean cars program helped them bounce back from the 2008 financial crisis and achieve record sales. They should join us in fighting back. We’ll be seeing the Trump administration in court.” “We intend to make sure that the [Trump administration’s] backsliding doesn’t reach California’s doorstep,” Becerra said. “And we’ll try to make sure that, working with our allies and our coalition partners, we keep this from getting to America’s doorstep.” Update March 31st, 1PM ET: Added quotes from California’s attorney general.

https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/31/21201036/trump-epa-obama-fuel-economy-rule-rollback-emissions-consumer-cost

Science

The Verge

2020-03-31 00:00:00

2020

3.0

31

Loren Grush

Today’s the last day to apply to be a NASA astronaut if you want to escape the planet

Today is the last day you can submit your application to become a NASA astronaut, in case you have an overwhelming urge to fling yourself off the planet for a while. The deadline to get your application in to NASA is 11:59PM ET tonight, so there’s only a few precious hours left to potentially line up your escape plan from Earth. NASA is recruiting a new round of astronauts for its highly touted Artemis program, an initiative to send the first woman to the surface of the Moon. The goal is to land the first Artemis crews on the lunar dirt by 2024 and then continue landing additional crews every year after that. The ultimate long-term goal is to send astronauts to Mars someday, and NASA hopes to use its Artemis program to learn and train for eventually sending people to the Red Planet someday. Perhaps exploring deep-space destinations in the Solar System appeals to you; perhaps you have some other motivations for wanting to be far away from the planet. Either way, the time to apply is now! Of course, there are some caveats. Before you become an astronaut, you have to pass a physical, and you need to be a US citizen. You need a master’s degree in some kind of STEM field (though there are other ways to meet this requirement, such as completing two years of work in a PhD program). Candidates also need two years of professional experience related to being an astronaut, or you can substitute in 1,000 hours of jet pilot experience. Oh and this time around, candidates also have to take an online test that’s about two hours long, according to NASA. Also if you’re particularly impatient to get into space right now for some reason, it’s good to know that it probably going to be a while before you blast off, even if you are selected from the likely tends of thousands of hopefuls who will apply. NASA doesn’t plan to choose finalists until the middle of 2021. Those individuals will go through about two years of training before they graduate and become eligible for mission assignments. Even then, it could be a few years before they get selected to be on a crew. The lucky few who do get picked may have some fun new rides to take into space. NASA notes that future astronauts could travel to the International Space Station on the new commercial vehicles being developed by SpaceX and Boeing. The first crewed flight of SpaceX’s spacecraft, the Crew Dragon, is slated to take place this May. Also for those with aspirations of getting to the Moon, future astronauts will be able to ride in NASA’s new deep-space crew capsule, called Orion, which is designed to launch on top of the agency’s future giant rocket, the Space Launch System. The pair are supposed to fly together on their first flight next year, though NASA did recently shut down production and development of these vehicles in response to the coronavirus pandemic, which will likely delay that mission even longer. Unfortunately, applying to be an astronaut probably isn’t the fastest solution to escaping the planet right now — if that is something you want to do. But, hey, you never know when you’ll need a quick trip off the Earth in the future — why not plan ahead now?

https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/31/21200302/nasa-astronaut-applications-deadline-artemis-moon-mars

Science

The Verge

2020-03-31 00:00:00

2020

3.0

31

Isabel Ling

Architects and engineers are 3D printing medical gear during pandemic

“We reached out to everyone we knew with 3D printers and we grabbed all the 3D printers we could [from campus]...” Petersen says over the phone, “It really took off from there. Over the course of the sixty hours we’ve been working on this, we’ve multiplied from three volunteers to more than fifty volunteers, from five 3D printers to 106 3D printers.” Production escalated quickly after the school’s College of Architecture, Art and Planning, which houses many of the university’s 3D printers, got involved, Petersen says. In an email to AAP students on Wednesday morning, associate dean, Jenny Sabin, announced that the college would be dedicating printers and resources to the cause and asked for those with 3D printers at home and extra filament left over from the semester to donate their time and materials to producing the visors, citing an estimated need of 50,000 visors a day in New York City. Facial shields have been incorporated into PPE for frontline healthcare workers as a precaution against respiratory droplets that transmit the virus. The shields being produced by Cornell faculty and students consist of a plastic visor piece that is worn across the forehead and a sheet of disposable polyethylene, which Sabin and her team have been laser cutting in the university’s digital fabrication lab. Many students, caught within the strange limbo of a closed campus and a university transitioning to online instruction, volunteered to print the visor pieces from home. For Jesus Luna, a graduate student in the architecture department who has been crowdsourcing materials from his fellow students, 3D printing is a small way to combat the sense of helplessness incited by the pandemic, “These are trying times, we all should be trying to help in any way we can. It seems that our field [architecture] is not useful in this time of crisis, so doing what little I can feels necessary.” “I’ve printed 15 visors today,” says Manying Chen, a fifth-year undergraduate architecture student, “Each one takes about 70 minutes, I’ve started doing it as soon as I wake up, it’s pretty easy.” Chen, who lives in Beijing, is one of many international students who have remained in Ithaca, unable to return to their home countries after the campus closed. The speed with which people around the world have been able to print visors is rooted in the open-source ethos of 3D printing, where makers are able to easily collaborate on and edit 3D files. This accessibility, however, has some worried about whether this informal PPE supply chain is turning out products that are good quality, and will keep health care workers safe. According to Petersen, the visors that are printed by Cornell faculty and students are from a 3D model file approved by medical professionals at Weill. The file itself, which was designed and released by 3Dverkstan, a Swedish 3D printing consultancy, has been downloaded over 10,000 times and is being used in over 20 countries, says Erik Cederberg, one of the designers behind the visor. “Quality control is a challenge,” Cederberg, who emphasizes that his design is a temporary fix, told The Verge, “From the start, we brought it to multiple people in the healthcare sector that we knew, including two hospitals in Stockholm, letting them try it out and getting some feedback. And we actually made some changes based off of that feedback before putting the design out in the world. Frankly, we can’t control what people are printing. But, we did make the model as simple as possible, so that it is very difficult to mess up. ” Petersen agrees that 3D-printed PPE is not a long term substitution, “We all can see that this is a terrible way of producing visors, there’re so many more efficient ways to be doing this. But I think like everyone else, we’re doing everything we can, and every single visor counts.” Correction 12:30 PM: A previous version of this article misspelled Kirstin Petersen’s name. It also misstated the item in the group’s estimate — they hope to one day produce over 1,000 visors a day, not masks. We regret the errors.

https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/31/21200883/3d-printing-ppe-medical-gear-pandemic-universities-architects-engineers

Science

The Verge

2020-03-31 00:00:00

2020

3.0

31

Jacob Kastrenakes

FCC requires anti-robocall tech be used by June 2021

Phone providers will be required to implement call verification technology by the end of June 2021 under rules approved today by the Federal Communications Commission. The technology, known as STIR/SHAKEN, allows phone providers to verify that a call is coming from a real number, letting people know they should pick up the phone rather than ignore a spoofed robocall. The FCC has been slow to mandate any kind of anti-robocalling technology. Today’s approval only comes after Congress voted last year to require STIR/SHAKEN to be implemented and for the FCC to oversee it. Before then, FCC chairman Ajit Pai had attempted to encourage phone service providers to voluntarily implement the protocols. Many had begun to do so, but implementation had been slow, despite the frustrating uptick in robocalls in recent years. Even at the end of June 2021, the system won’t be foolproof. Phone providers only have to apply the technology to the IP-based portions of their networks (so phone systems that still rely on older tech are exempted), and the FCC is working to extend the deadline for smaller phone companies by a year. Once the technology is in place, phone providers still have to integrate their authentication systems with each other. The TRACED Act, passed by Congress, requires phone providers to work toward that integration, but there aren’t really deadlines on how quickly it has to happen. Major service providers, including T-Mobile, AT&T, and Comcast, have already started to roll the technology out, but support has been limited. Authentication is only available on certain phones, and the systems aren’t all integrated to work together yet. That leads to some big gaps in the system: while you can be sure an authenticated call is real, there’s no guarantee that an un-authenticated call is a robocall — it could just be someone calling from an unsupported network. The system won’t really work as robocall detection technology until nearly ever provider is on board. Still, the June 2021 deadline means that things are finally moving. STIR/SHAKEN very likely won’t have fixed the robocall problem by then, but it should hopefully be in a position to soon put in a dent in it.

https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/31/21201140/fcc-stir-shaken-approved-june-2021-deadline-robocalls

Policy

The Verge

2020-03-31 00:00:00

2020

3.0

31

Chaim Gartenberg

Google ends sales of the Pixel 3

Google has officially stopped selling its Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL smartphones, as spotted by Android Police. The product page for the phones now simply redirects to the Google Store’s homepage, with Google confirming that it has sold through its inventory (although the phone do remain available, for now, at third-party retailers like Best Buy or Walmart.) The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL were announced and released in October 2018, with the phones praised at the time for their larger displays, excellent cameras, and clean design. The phone’s camera in particular still holds up against many of the best smartphones on sale today, although the Pixel 3 and 3 XL suffered from the same issues most of Google’s Pixel phone do — slow sales and a lack of customer interest compared to major players like Apple and Samsung. The 18-month timing is virtually identical to the lifecycle for the Pixel 2, which was discontinued almost exactly a year ago on April 1st, 2019, 18 months after it was first sold. It’s not quite the end of the road yet for Pixel 3 owners. Google promises software support through October 2021, meaning that the Pixel 3 and 3 XL should be on track to get updates to Android 11 this year, and even next year’s Android 12. The two phones will also get software updates through then, too. Anyone looking for a budget Pixel phone likely won’t have too long to wait, though, with leaks indicating that a new $399 Pixel 4a (a successor to last year’s cheaper Pixel 3a) could be right around the corner, although its not entirely clear when that will launch due to Google canceling events like its I/O conference due to the coronavirus.

https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/31/21200925/google-pixel-3-xl-discontinued-store-sales-phone-camera

Google

The Verge

2020-03-31 00:00:00

2020

3.0

31

Cameron Faulkner

Save on Master & Dynamic MW07 Plus, Peak Design backpacks, and more

Only the best deals on Verge-approved gadgets get the Verge Deals stamp of approval, so if you're looking for a deal on your next gadget or gift from major retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, Target, and more, this is the place to be. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links. For more information, see our ethics policy. Some days yield more deals than others, and today is one of those days. Starting things off are the Master & Dynamic MW07 Plus truly wireless headphones, which are seeing their first big discount at Best Buy. Normally $300, they’re $240. In my review, I enjoyed their noise cancellation effect and fantastic sound performance, and they have a unique look. I considered the high price as one of their biggest weaknesses, especially since the AirPods Pro accomplish similar results for $50 less. But now that price is less of a factor (yet, these are still fairly pricey), they might be worth checking out. Master & Dynamic MW07 Plus Peak Design’s 20-liter Everyday Backpack might not be the most useful thing to buy during a pandemic, given that most of us are self-isolating. But it’s as affordable as ever today, at a little more than $100 off of its usual $260 price. At Amazon, you can get the bag in a few different colors for $156. If you buy it, you’ll be prepped for day-long trips and other vacations to come with a bag that can fit in a lot of gear. Peak Design Everyday Backpack 20L Similar to Target, Amazon is hosting a buy two, get one free deal on video games. Though, it’s extending the offer to board and tabletop games. Just add three of the items included in this promotion to your cart, and you’ll be able to save some money on your order. As usual, Amazon will deduct the price of the most affordable item in your cart, so the more you spend on each item, the more you stand to save. As far as what might catch your eye, Death Stranding, Nioh 2, Doom: Eternal, and board and tabletop games like Exploding Kittens, Cards Against Humanity, and the Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set are a few examples of what’s available right now in this promo. Newegg is offering $20 off the cost to renew, or start anew, a subscription to PlayStation Plus, Sony’s service for PS4 that enables multiplayer and adds free games to your library each month, so long as you remain subscribed. Instead of $60, it’s $40 with the offer code EMCDEEG28. Sony PS Plus membership (one year) Verge Deals on Twitter

https://www.theverge.com/good-deals/2020/3/31/21201004/master-dynamic-mw07-plus-headphones-peak-design-backpack-games-sale

Good Deals

The Verge

2020-03-31 00:00:00

2020

3.0

31

Ashley Carman

Spotify is bringing its kids app to the US, Canada, and France

Spotify’s expanding the rollout of its kids app, just as more kids are at home with nothing to do. The company announced that it’s bringing Spotify Kids to the US, Canada, and France today. The ad-free iOS / Android app is only available to Spotify Premium Family subscribers and features content appropriate for kids ages three and older. Spotify first launched the app in Ireland in October, and since then, it’s made multiple product adjustments, although the app is still considered to be in beta. In the five months since launching, Spotify says the app now has more than 8,000 songs in its catalog, an increase of 30 percent, and 50 percent of that content is localized. The app also features 60 hours of audiobooks and stories, as well as more bedtime content, like lullabies, calming music and sounds, and bedtime stories. In the US, kids will have access to 125 playlists, including themes like Spanish-language, country, Christian, Motown, and a soul dance party, as well as playlists tied to cultural moments like the Trolls World Tour.

https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/31/21200272/spotify-kids-playlist-rollout-app-launch-beta

Entertainment

The Verge

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

Lauren Strapagiel

This Boss Accidentally Turned Herself Into A Potato For A Video Meeting And Couldn't Figure Out How To Fix It

The journalists at BuzzFeed News are proud to bring you trustworthy and relevant reporting about the coronavirus. To help keep this news free, become a member and sign up for our newsletter, Outbreak Today. For those of us lucky enough to still be working, the adjustment to working from home can be daunting. For others, it's just plain hilarious. Lizet Ocampo is the political director People For the American Way. The organization does work like encouraging Latinx voters and helping progressive candidates win elections. Like many others offices, Ocampo and her colleagues are now working from home, including meeting using video calls. That's where Ocampo's trouble began. As part of her work with Latinx voters, Ocampo has been hosting virtual happy hours for community leaders, as a fun way to connect. To add to the fun, Ocampo downloaded some funny filters to use during these happy hours. Problem is, she forgot that she did that. "So Monday morning we had our meeting and I usually try to do camera and when we started the meeting I saw myself as a potato," she said. "I was so confused as to why I was a potato," she said. "Of all the things I could be, why a potato?" She realized it was because she had downloaded filters but she also absolutely could not figure out how to change it back. Meanwhile, her colleagues were enjoying a good laugh. "As a progressive organization, we fight for justice for all and access to opportunities and in the last three-plus years it’s been a little tough," she said. "I just kind of gave up and stayed as a potato for the rest of the call." This is the look of a potato resigned to its fate. What she didn't know is that her colleague, Rachel, tweeted a screenshot of the potato incident. The tweet blew up and now has nearly 900,000 likes. Ocampo didn't find out until Monday evening when Rachel texted her. She sent Ocampo: "Are you awake right now? I have something hilarious to tell you and I hope you think it’s as funny as I do becase I’m also scared. I tweeted about you as a potato today and it’s VIRAL." Thankfully, Ocampo found it funny, too. She's also been enjoying the replies from people on Twitter. Ocampo also tweeted her approval, with some bonus puns. Ocampo said she's just glad to be brightening people's days in these strange times. "I hope folks are really taking seriously to be safe and stay planted."

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/laurenstrapagiel/potato-boss-video-call

Buzzfeed News

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

Michael Blackmon

How Celebs Like Tamia And Deborah Cox Are Creating Virtual Community

Tamia and Deborah Cox The journalists at BuzzFeed News are proud to bring you trustworthy and relevant reporting about the coronavirus. To help keep this news free, become a member and sign up for our newsletter, Outbreak Today. It’s hard to believe that the universally pilloried video in which various celebrities “sing” John Lennon’s “Imagine” — ostensibly meant as a sincere gesture spearheaded by Wonder Woman actor Gal Gadot — took place only two weeks ago. Life under quarantine has rendered time, as well as most of our daily routines, obsolete. At this point, days practically blend into one another (What day is it now, anyway?!) so you’d be forgiven if you don’t remember Sarah Silverman, Jimmy Fallon, Natalie Portman, and several other entertainers attempting — and failing terribly — to invoke a digital kumbaya for our pandemic-stricken world. Those were, after all, the early days, and many people, not just celebrities, were struggling with how seriously the virus should be taken. But America is now knee-deep in crisis mode — at the latest White House press conference President Donald Trump warned that between 100,000–240,000 people could die from COVID-19 despite social distancing. And for people who quite literally thrive on attention from the masses, the coronavirus has put many celebrities into a prickly predicament. As my colleague Tomi Obaro pondered a few weeks ago, “What is the role of the entertainer in a snowballing public health crisis?” What’s been made clear is that even celebrities themselves do not know the answer to that question. In a New York Times article about how celebrity worship has begun to falter, Amanda Hess writes that the pantheon of famous people in the “Imagine” video seemed to believe their “contributions suggest that the very appearance of a celebrity is a salve, as if a pandemic could be overcome by star power alone.” Thankfully, there are some stars, mostly musicians, who are cognizant of the fact that what people really crave right now is community and connection, even if the moment is fleeting. This past weekend, the vocalists Tamia and Deborah Cox posted an Instagram cover of “Count on Me,” which was featured on the Waiting to Exhale soundtrack and originally sung by Whitney Houston and CeCe Winans. “Even though we’re apart I love that we are all finding creative ways to keep connected and stay together during these times,” Tamia wrote on Instagram in a caption about the rendition, adding that it was a song that brought her and her friends “comfort.” The post, which got nearly 400,000 thousand views, seemed to resonate beyond Instagram too. Essence magazine picked it up, and various Twitter users posted the cover, which also went viral on Twitter. One particular reason this video seemed to hit is that both Tamia and Cox are professional singers, and the song felt sincere rather than a manufactured attempt to say we’re all in this together. Of course, nostalgia also played a role in the success of Tamia and Deborah’s collaboration, and they’re not the only celebrities making the most of that ever-reliable feel-good longing for simpler times to bring people a modicum of good cheer. On Sunday night, a faction of Twitter users were excitedly tweeting about a song battle between producer and songwriter Johntá Austin and singer-songwriter Ne-Yo. The task was simple, the two, via Instagram Live, would play a few of their most memorable songs — 20 each — and the fans would decide which song they liked best. (Austin won, hands down.) The livestream topped out at nearly 80K people watching as the two artists walked down memory lane, reminiscing about how old they were when they wrote certain songs and giving fans a deeper appreciation for their craft. The producers Swizz Beatz and Timbaland had come up with the format for the battle last week when they went head-to-head in the first song battle. Since then, the competition has taken off, featuring The-Dream vs. Sean Garrett, Boi-1da vs. Hit-Boy, and most recently, Austin and Ne-Yo. Among the thousands of fans tweeting and commenting about Austin and Ne-Yo, prominent musicians like Tyrese, Bryan-Michael Cox, and Wale were just as engaged. And naturally, people have been imagining their own ideal songwriter/producer battles, like Jermaine Dupri vs. Diddy or Diane Warren vs. Babyface. The actor Leslie Jordan, Brian Littrell from the Backstreet Boys, and Mariah Carey. Celebrities who have always embraced their wackiness have been the ones best-equipped for helping people get through quarantine, like Mad Men star January Jones, who has truly been leaning into weird self-isolation content. Similarly, actor Leslie Jordan has been a reservoir of happiness for people stuck inside. Jordan, in his distinctive Tennessean accent, consistently charms people with bright opening lines in his videos, like “Well, hello pilgrims and fellow fitness fanatics!” Other times he’s just making random skits that’ll surely make you burst out laughing in delight. Take a scroll through the comments on any given video, and you’ll find lots of people thanking the star for putting a smile on their face, people who say they look forward to his videos every day. Network television has also gotten inventive as shows have been shut down because of the coronavirus. Celebs like Mariah Carey and the Backstreet Boys each sang one of their ’90s hits as part of the Living Room Concert for America, hosted by Elton John, an event which came together after the 2020 iHeartRadio Music Awards were postponed due to the ongoing pandemic. But celebs aren’t just relying on their talent to foster joy and hope for their fans. They’ve been doing Instagram Lives like regular folk, which effectively become fan-servicey moments for their loyal followers. See: Justin Bieber and Tom Holland or Demi Lovato and Miley Cyrus. Basketball star Steph Curry, who can’t play his sport because of the pandemic, also participated in a livestream with Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, to ask questions about the coronavirus. The stream was watched by at least 50,000 people and drew the attention of Bieber, as well as former president Barack Obama, who urged people to “take care of each other." Lizzo, with her flute in hand, led a meditation session to “promote healing” which people can access whenever they please; Taylor Swift personally DM’d and donated money to fans amid the ongoing outbreak; and actor Josh Gad volunteered to read — to you and your children — as a way of supporting people during the crisis. Rihanna has donated millions of dollars to help medical workers receive PPE while pledging to personally cover the cost of ventilators for people in her home country of Barbados. The last month of the ongoing pandemic has given fans unprecedented access to their favorite celebrities and illuminated the stark differences between their lives and those of everyday people. Celebrities often have more resources that allow them to be tested for the virus and likely don’t have the same level of worries when it comes to finances, which is far from the reality facing the average American. Stars, unequivocally, aren’t just like us. But when they dial back the unnatural veneer of celebrity, it certainly feels like we’re all on the same playing field, trying to find hope and connection where we can. If only for a moment.●

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/michaelblackmon/deborah-cox-tamia-backstreetboys-leslie-jordan

Buzzfeed News

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

Nishita Jha

Coronavirus In India: Shocking Video Shows Workers In Mumbai Being Sprayed With Disinfectant

The journalists at BuzzFeed News are proud to bring you trustworthy and relevant reporting about the coronavirus. To help keep this news free, become a member and sign up for our newsletter, Outbreak Today. The footage, filmed this week, shows people in an area close to Heera Panna, a neighborhood in south Mumbai. The man spraying them is carrying a container and a hosepipe usually used for pest fumigation. In the videos, a group of men can be seen being instructed to line up by a security guard. The guard then directs the man with the hose towards the workers, who are then sprayed with liquid. At least two of the men in the line can be seen wearing a uniform typically worn by private residential staff. In one of the videos, a woman can be heard off-camera saying, “They’re wearing handkerchiefs around their faces, they haven’t even been given a mask,” and then, “But how will this help?” While the World Health Organization has released an extensive list of precautions to inhibit the spread of the coronavirus — such as physical distancing, frequently washing hands, disinfecting commonly used surfaces like doorknobs and handrails — it list does not include spraying people with disinfectant. Depending on the chemicals used in the spray, prolonged exposure could be highly toxic, cause burns and damage eyesight. A Mumbai resident who requested not to be identified shared the video with BuzzFeed News, and confirmed that a man carrying a similar container with a hose visited her neighborhood as well. She said that she and other residents were asked to lock their doors and windows so that the liquid would not enter. It is unclear at this point whether the liquid used to disinfect common surfaces like railings and elevator buttons is the same as the one being sprayed on workers in the videos. If you're someone who is seeing the impact of the coronavirus firsthand, we’d like to hear from you. Reach out to us via one of our tip line channels. Even as India has heightened its vigilance against the spread of the coronavirus with a nationwide lockdown, most measures have assumed a level of privilege. It is impossible for migrant workers, daily wage laborers and others who work to keep the cities running to stay locked inside their houses and to stockpile food. After images of migrant workers leaving cities in a mass exodus went viral this week, several states have set up soup kitchens and encampments for them but still, the suddenly hyper-visible working class — some of the only people who have to be outdoors to make a living — are being treated as a problem to be dealt with, rather than potential victims of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. Days ago, a video of migrant workers being sprayed with chemicals in Uttar Pradesh, a state in northern India caused huge outrage online. Supporters of the state’s government were quick to point out that the same measures were also being deployed in Kerala, a state in south India that has been praised on a BBC panel for its handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Kerala’s government was quick to clarify that the spray was only a mixture of soap and water. So far, the full-body spray technique appears to have only been deployed on members of India’s working class — no such measures are being rolled out at a national level, or have been observed in other countries as they respond to the coronavirus pandemic.

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/nishitajha/coronavirus-india-disinfectant-spray-video

Buzzfeed News

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

Peter Aldhous

Gun Sales In The US Surged After The Coronavirus Outbreak Hit

This chart shows the spike in US gun sales that took place in March, as fear of COVID-19 took hold. The massive spike blows past previous surges in sales set after mass shootings, most prominently after Sandy Hook. BuzzFeed News estimated gun sales from the FBI’s monthly figures on background checks for gun buyers, using a method developed by Jurgen Brauer of the consultancy Small Arms Analytics & Forecasting. Gun sales are highly seasonal, typically peaking in December, but we removed seasonal trends using a correction method from the US Census Bureau. This reveals any transient spikes that are not part of the seasonal pattern. The spike for March 2020 is unprecedented. The dotted line labeled COVID-19 marks February 29, when the first death from the disease in the US, a male health worker in his fifties from Washington state, was recorded. In the first half of March, retailers told BuzzFeed News that they were experiencing a surge in gun sales, body armor, and other tactical gear driven by a desire by “preppers” to keep themselves safe in the face of uncertainty. “I think with the way things have escalated quite quickly around the world and in the US in just the last couple of weeks, it's very hard to tell what's going to happen next,” said Kevin Lim, owner of the tactical gear retailer Bulletproof Zone. “It’s essentially what we anticipated,” Brauer told BuzzFeed News of the spike now revealed in the FBI data. Over the years, the largest spikes in gun sales have come in the aftermath of high-profile mass shootings, when political debate turned to new gun controls. (Mass shootings, in which more than 4 people died, are shown as red circles on the chart, sized by the number of people killed.) Similar spikes have been seen in several states before new gun controls came into effect. There was also a spike after Barack Obama won the 2008 presidential election, apparently because potential gun buyers realized the nation would soon have a president unlikely to veto any attempt by Congress to enact new gun controls. (At a fundraiser during the Democratic primaries, Obama had alienated gun owners by saying that small-town voters “cling to guns or religion.”) After Donald Trump took office, backed by the gun lobby, massacres like those in Las Vegas in October 2017 and El Paso, Texas, in August 2019 didn’t have the same effect. Even the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, in February 2018 triggered only a small bump in sales. The only precedent in recent decades for the wave of fear currently gripping the nation was the reaction to the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Those attacks were also followed by a surge in gun sales, but nothing like the spike seen in March 2020.

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/peteraldhous/coronavirus-gun-sales

Buzzfeed News

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

Krystie Lee Yandoli

Streaming Apocalypse Movies During The Coronavirus Pandemic

Piper Perabo, Chris Pine, Lou Taylor Pucci, and Emily VanCamp in Carriers (2009), a road trip horror movie about the survivors of a viral pandemic. The journalists at BuzzFeed News are proud to bring you trustworthy and relevant reporting about the coronavirus. To help keep this news free, become a member and sign up for our newsletter, Outbreak Today. I can’t stop watching movies about the world coming to an end. Like seemingly everyone else in the country, I started with Contagion, which I watched for the first time at the end of February so that I could interview veterinary pathologist Tracey McNamara, who served as a scientific adviser for the film. At that point, COVID-19 was already silently spreading in the US, but hadn’t really started to make itself felt in earnest. But that conversation was sobering; McNamara told me that Steven Soderbergh’s 2011 film about a disease that originates in Hong Kong and rapidly spreads around the world, killing millions of people, was meant to be a warning. Evidently, it wasn’t one that fully got through. My apocalyptic viewing started ramping up in earnest a couple of weeks ago, when the US made a collective shift toward taking the coronavirus more seriously. Things felt like they took a significant turn on March 11, when the spread of the virus prompted Trump to suspend travel from Europe to the US, Tom Hanks announced he and his wife, Rita Wilson, were quarantined with the virus in Australia, and the NBA postponed the rest of its season indefinitely. That same day, I was told by my company to start working from home and social distancing, and I witnessed firsthand the eeriness of going to a normally stocked grocery store that was left with barren freezers and empty shelves where canned goods and toilet paper were once abundant. It was a bizarre and unsettling moment. All of a sudden, things felt like they were changing, and they wouldn’t be getting better anytime soon. This was before we knew what we know now; before the coronavirus infected more than 189,000 people in the United States, before states across the country instituted strict shelter-in-place mandates keeping residents inside their homes, before hospitals were overwhelmed, and before presidential adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci told the US to prepare for between 100,000 and 240,000 deaths in the next few months as a result of the virus. But even weeks ago, the fear of all of these forthcoming realities inspired me to double down and watch Contagion yet again; I had a morbid curiosity to see just how many apocalyptic movies I could stream from the comfort of my own apartment over the course of a single weekend. Left: Gwyneth Paltrow in Contagion (2011). Right: Cuba Gooding Jr., Kevin Spacey, and Dustin Hoffman in Outbreak (1995). After Contagion, I turned to Outbreak, which has also been experiencing a timely surge in popularity on Netflix. Set in 1995, Outbreak (loosely adapted from the nonfiction book The Hot Zone) is about the global spread of a lethal virus that causes people to break out into a terrible fever before killing them. It was horrifying to watch the eerie parallels of this disease infecting the masses, hospitals putting patients into quarantine, and the CDC scrambling to come up with a vaccine. Things took a turn when I streamed How It All Ends, a random Netflix movie from 2018 starring Forest Whitaker and Theo James. Their characters drive from Chicago to Seattle in search of Whitaker’s daughter and James’s girlfriend after a mysterious seismic event happens on the West Coast, shutting down national flights and leaving people across the country in panic about the unknown disaster. Then I watched the 2009 film Carriers, about a couple of brothers and their girlfriends living in a postapocalyptic society after a mysterious virus has spread around the globe and killed the majority of the population. Neither of the two movies is critically acclaimed — nor are they popular or realistic! — but that didn’t stop them from being very unsettling and stressful to watch. I rebounded with the Steve Carell and Keira Knightley romantic dramedy Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, from 2012, about two people finding love and friendship with only 21 days left to live before an asteroid crashes into the planet. Sure, the world does actually come to an end, but there's also something charming and hopeful about watching Carell and Knightley find closure and fall in love, holding one another close as an asteroid hits Earth at the one hour and 40 minute mark. The last apocalyptic film I watched in my anxiety-inducing marathon was the 1997 classic Armageddon, which is basically a full-fledged feel-good movie compared to the rest. This movie truly has it all: nutty humor, an epic love story with a young, charismatic Ben Affleck and Liv Tyler, and the grumpy yet heroic Bruce Willis. Who doesn't want to feel a huge sense of relief as they watch a 25-year-old Affleck, fresh off Good Will Hunting, help save the world and give viewers a happy ending? Keira Knightley and Steve Carell in Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (2012). I’m certainly not the only person gravitating toward apocalyptic movies about surviving the end of the world and viruses spreading — Contagion is currently one of the 10 most-watched films on iTunes, and Outbreak has been on Netflix’s top 10 most-watched list for the past few weeks. But to be crystal clear: I do not recommend anyone else fall down the same kind of rabbit hole that I have. In fact, I was concerned enough with my behavior that I checked in with a professional to see just how bad an idea my obsessive viewing actually was. I wanted to know: Is it copacetic to watch a string of apocalypse movies in the midst of what seems pretty close to an actual apocalypse? Or was I doing this at the serious cost of my own emotional well-being? I reached out to Christina Scott, a psychology professor at Whittier College, who's researched and spoken about "the allure of dystopia in popular culture." “People are naturally going to turn to Netflix because of escapism,” Scott told me. “But everything is best in moderation. I realize what a cliché that sounds like, but I wouldn’t watch 45 romantic comedies and I wouldn’t watch 45 doomsday movies back to back.” Scott explained that the reason people like me are gravitating toward such dark films, which mirror at least a semblance of what we’re seeing happen around us in real life, is because of something called the terror management theory. “The theory basically says that all of us are scared out of our minds that our lives are limited and we will die one day, and it's not something we like to think about,” Scott said. “So I think in a moment of a pandemic, people want to escape.” Some people are finding escape and comfort in streaming content that allows them to dissociate from the current state of the world, like romantic comedies or movies that make us feel nostalgic. But for those of us who are slightly masochistic, turning to apocalyptic movies is another means of comfort, according to Scott. “There are two reasons I personally would think we would be looking at movies like Contagion right now. One of them is that it almost gives us a sense that reality isn’t that bad. It could be a lot worse, because look what a disaster is going on in this particular movie,” she said. “And I think the other part of it is, unfortunately, there's a sense of almost doomsday prepping. People might think in case real life gets worse, this is the only reference point we have — because we don’t have any reference of this ever happening in recent times, in our lifetimes.” With each day that goes by, humanity feels like it’s inching closer and closer to what I’m seeing onscreen in these apocalyptic movies; death tolls are increasing, doctors are tasked with saving people’s lives but many don’t have the resources they need to keep themselves from falling ill or dying, and grocery store shelves remain empty. But as Scott pointed out to me, at a time when “there's still a sense of imminent fear every day about a problem that you can't just escape,” these apocalyptic films are reassuring because they’re fiction, not reality. And the central element of the fantasy is that “there's always a hero that pulls us out of it.” “It’s kind of this happily ever after for adults. Maybe the world is obliterated and our favorite character bit the dust in a tragic, drawn-out scene, but in the end, the world is saved,” Scott said. “And I think that's part of that terror management theory of bringing us some comfort. There's hope at the end.” Ben Affleck and Liv Tyler in Armageddon (1997). That’s not to say this kind of entertainment is comforting for everyone right now. Scott said binge-watching films about the world coming to an end isn’t likely to be helpful for people who are at risk for depression or anxiety, especially if people have limited social interactions with others and aren’t checking in with people in their actual realities. “If you're watching these movies going, Okay, I have to go hoard masks and I have to not talk to anybody and I have to put duct tape on all of my windows, yeah, you're looking at a Hollywood movie as though it were guidelines from the CDC, and that's probably not good,” she said. “This is supposed to be for entertainment.” The other thing to consider is that all movies, even ones about impending apocalypses and viral contagions, have beginnings, middles, and ends. In Armageddon, Willis’s character sacrifices himself to save the world, allowing Affleck to go home and marry Liv Tyler. In Contagion, the CDC scientists come up with a vaccine and Matt Damon’s daughter gets to dance around her living room with her boyfriend, the two of them all dressed up, at their private social distancing prom night. In Outbreak, Dustin Hoffman convinces two pilots in the US Army not to drop a bomb on a congregation of citizens infected by a spreading virus because, at the last minute, they miraculously find a cure. The simple fact that all of these movies come to an end might be the most reassuring thing about them. “People feel like, I’m safely in my pajamas watching Netflix, this isn’t real, it does have an ending, and in two hours, it'll be over,” Scott said. “I think that’s comforting to people that in two hours or less, you're going to watch this mess get cleaned up. ‘Cause we can't get an ending right now. We don’t really have a timeline. We’re not getting a lot of decisive answers or great leadership and guidance.” For the foreseeable future and out of an abundance of caution for my mental health, I've given up on watching any more movies about global diseases spreading and the world ending. Reality is grim enough. But, while my mini marathon wasn't doing too much to make me feel better about the state of things, the main idea I’m holding onto from my weekend of apocalypse bingeing is something Scott told me, with optimism: “The major heroes always survive.” ●

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/krystieyandoli/coronavirus-apocalypse-end-world-movies-contagion-outbreak

Buzzfeed News

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

Kadia Goba

Coronavirus Victims: Lawmakers Mourn Family, Staff Who Died Of Covid-19

The journalists at BuzzFeed News are proud to bring you trustworthy and relevant reporting about the coronavirus. To help keep this news free, become a member and sign up for our newsletter, Outbreak Today. April Dunn (right) and her friend Brandi Melissa. April Dunn, a staff member of Louisiana Gov. Bel Edwards’ Office of Disability Affairs, died on March 28 after complications related to coronavirus. She was 33. Friends say Dunn tested positive for COVID-19, the disease that causes the coronavirus, on Thursday, March 26 and was hospitalized on Friday. She died the next day. “She lived her life to the fullest and improved the lives of countless Louisianans with disabilities as a dedicated staff member in the Governor's Office of Disability Affairs,” Edwards said in a Twitter thread, calling her “an inspiration to everyone that met her.” Dunn was a fierce advocate for disability rights and suffered from several underlying conditions, including cerebral palsy. The Louisiana native began her advocacy during her fight to secure her high school diploma and attend college. In 2013, she joined forces with other advocates to help pass Act 833 — a bill which allows "alternative pathways" to high school graduation for people with disabilities. Dunn had been denied a high school diploma after successfully completing her course work but failing to pass standardized testing. Dunn was also the chair of the Louisiana Developmental Disability Council. “I mean she went from surviving fetal alcoholism syndrome, through foster care, to being adopted to working in the governor’s office after she finished college,” Dunn's close friend, Brandi Melissa, 36, told BuzzFeed News. “She was amazing.” Another one of Dunn’s friends, Amy Donarski, in March, asked her Facebook friends to help celebrate her daughter’s 14th birthday by sending cards and notes. The birthday package Dunn sent arrived on Saturday — the same day she died. Lawmaker Isaac Robinson, an attorney-turned-politician who represented parts of Detroit, is suspected to have died as a result of coronavirus on March 29. He was 44. His mother, Rep. Rose Mary C. Robinson, a former Detroit lawmaker, told Crain’s Detroit her son had complained of difficulty breathing but had refused to get medical assistance. She told the outlet she suspected his ailments were related to the coronavirus, though he never took a test. “He was my neighbor and I served with his mother,” Rep. Rashida Tlaib told BuzzFeed News in a text message. “Known him since 2008 when we were both young activists. His death woke people up. People are shocked.” Robinson, a Democrat, was elected to the Michigan state legislature in 2018 besting 13 others in a Democratic primary. He eventually succeeded his mother who held the seat before him but was unable to run again because of restrictions that limit the number of terms an officeholder may serve. Before taking office, Robinson operated his own law firm and had previously served as political counsel for the labor union, The International Brotherhood of Teamsters — of which he was a member. “He really empowered others,” longtime friend Al Williams told BuzzFeed News. “He was a true public servant,” Williams said, fighting back tears. “It didn’t matter who we were up against.” Before graduating from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, Robinson completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Michigan. He was a graduate of Renaissance High School in Detroit where he played basketball for the school’s team. “It wasn’t known for its athletics but he was on the varsity basketball team,” Williams, 40, said. “Only white boy on the team — everybody loved him.” Democratic and Republican politicians in Michigan tweeted their condolences to the family while lauding Robinson. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer tweeted saying, Robinson, “had a huge heart, a quick wit, and a genuine passion for the people.” Speaker of Michigan’s House of Representatives Lee Chatfield, a Republican, said, “Isaac was a passionate public servant who loved Detroit. He had a big heart, fought hard for his beliefs, and fought even harder for the people he served so honorably.” Robert Garff, a former Utah state lawmaker and philanthropist, died March 29 after he and his wife Katharine tested positive for COVID-19, the disease that causes the coronavirus. He was 77. Friends said Garff became ill after returning from a trip to Palm Springs, California. Garff, a Utah native, served as speaker of the Utah House of Representatives from 1985 to 1987. He became CEO of the family business, Ken Garff Automotive Group, four decades ago and also served on the board of Intermountain Healthcare — the largest healthcare provider in the Intermountain West of the country. “Even when he was alive, I described Bob as the nicest man you’d ever meet,” friend and current CEO of Ken Graff Automotive Group, Brett Hopkins, told BuzzFeed News. “He was very kind, very sincere, very, very interested in people.” Hopkins said Garff enjoyed doing cattle roundups and did so even up until a couple of years ago with his family and friends on his ranch in Summit County. Garff is survived by his wife, five children, and 21 grandchildren. Politicians mourned the Utah legend on social media, including his daughter, state Rep. Melissa Garff Ballard who announced his death. “He has lived a long and happy life, full of vigor and love for our state and our families,” she wrote. Sen. Mitt Romney, of Utah, who had himself been self-quarantining but tested negative for the coronavirus, released a statement calling Garff, “a dear friend.” "Bob’s contributions to our state, to our economy, and to our church will be heralded by many,” Romney tweeted. “But for me, it was his sound and principled leadership as the Chairman of the Olympic Winter Games of 2002 that is most compelling.” From left: Former Chief Deputy Attorney General Natalie Ludaway, George Valentine, and Attorney General Karl A. Racine. George Valentine, a member of DC Mayor Muriel Bowser’s legal counsel died March 27 after he was diagnosed with COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. He was 66. “George’s dedication to the people he served was evident in his work and in the love and wisdom he shared with residents and colleagues.” Bowser said on Twitter. Valentine worked at AOG as Deputy Attorney General for our Civil Litigation Division and most recently as Deputy Director of the Mayor’s Office of Legal Counsel. He earned his undergraduate degree at Oakwood College in Alabama and then pursued a law degree at Harvard Law School, according to social media posts and his LinkedIn page. Friends and colleagues remember him as “kind” and “smart.” Valentine cared deeply about underserved children in DC and routinely volunteered to be a foster parent and had adopted a child, according to the DC Attorney general. “The George Valentine that we know as the fella that can go into the courtroom and manage lawyers and develop lawyers is one person. The George Valentine that went out of his way to look out for kids who needed a consistent adult in their life is someone we all will miss,” DC Attorney General Karl Racine told BuzzFeed News in a phone interview. Rancine told BuzzFeed News that Valentine contributed mightily to the District of Columbia as a lawyer working for over 25 years with a win rate of approximately 95% in DC courts. Racine said he was “deeply saddened personally” to hear the news of George’s death. “That obviously brought a level of profound reality to the situation that we’re in with the virus and the pandemic.” Former Connecticut representative Anthony Spadaccini died March 25 due to complications related to novel coronavirus — the first known death in Stamford where he served on the Board of Representatives from 2018 to 2019. The 54-year-old recently worked as the chief operating officer for a local distribution center where he managed the production floor. He leaves behind his wife, Stefanie, and two sons, Anthony and Paul. His former employer and close friend James Lyman described him as "hardworking and caring" and told BuzzFeed News the staff is "completely distraught at this loss." "He was a very productive and stern manager but he was also very fatherly to all the employees," Lyman told BuzzFeed News. "The personality on the production floor was kind of different than the personality in the break room." Ron Golden, older brother to Minnesota’s Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, died March 21 due to complications related to the coronavirus. He was 56. Golden’s immune system was compromised after having been diagnosed with cancer just weeks before contracting COVID-19, Flanagan said in an Instagram post. He was the second resident to succumb to the disease at the time. “To many, he’ll be a statistic: Tennessee’s second COVID-related death. But to me, I’ll remember a loving, older brother, uncle, father, and husband,” Flanagan said. Flanagan described her brother as a “tough-as-nails Marine who was a big teddy bear on the inside.” Flanagan, a Democrat, said her brother’s politics wasn’t like hers “AT ALL” and the two often joked about it. In January, the two mourned the death of their father, Marvin Maypenny. Golden was a member of the Native American band White Earth Band of Ojibwe located in northwestern Minnesota, but was raised in Tennessee where he died. Golden’s widow, Jose Golden, plans to spread his ashes in Minnesota where their father is buried, Flanagan told reporters on March 25.

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/kadiagoba/lawmakers-mourn-coronavirus-victims-covid19

Buzzfeed News

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

Paul McLeod

Donald Trump Won’t Open Enrollment For Obamacare During The Coronavirus Outbreak

The journalists at BuzzFeed News are proud to bring you trustworthy and relevant reporting about the coronavirus. To help keep this news free, become a member and sign up for our newsletter, Outbreak Today. The Trump administration will not open up Obamacare enrollment, denying millions of people the chance to buy health insurance during the coronavirus outbreak. As the pandemic spread and unemployment spiked in recent weeks, White House officials had said they were considering reopening the individual markets through HealthCare.gov, allowing people who may have lost jobs to access health insurance. But an administration official confirmed to BuzzFeed News Wednesday that that will not happen. Normally people can only sign up for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplaces — commonly known as Obamacare — during a set period at the end of the calendar year. But the administration was considering a special enrollment period to allow more people to buy health insurance. The news that they will not do so was first reported by Politico. A record 3.3 million people filed for unemployment in one week, and tens of millions more could lose their jobs before social distancing orders are lifted. Under the ACA, people who lose their jobs are eligible to buy insurance plans on the individual markets, but they may need to provide documents showing that they lost their job or that their income level has changed. Reopening the ACA marketplaces would have streamlined this process and allowed others to buy federally-regulated health insurance plans during the public health emergency. Democrats condemned the White House’s decision as cruel. “It should be unimaginable that in the middle of a pandemic the President of the United States would reject a clear opportunity to help people get health care coverage they desperately need,” said Sen. Patty Murray, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Health Committee. “But that’s exactly what President Trump is doing. It’s inexcusable.” Eleven states plus the District of Columbia are allowing people to sign up for Obamacare plans on their own state marketplaces. Those states are California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, Mssachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington. Another option for people who want to keep their work insurance is to sign up for COBRA plans, wherein they pay the full premiums for the work health insurance. These tend to be significantly more expensive because the now out-of-work individual has to pay both their regular monthly premiums and their former employer’s contributions. Alternatively, depending on a person’s income level they may also qualify for Medicaid. The Trump administration has taken a cold view of administering the Obamacare markets since day one. They’ve backed the Republican push to repeal the ACA that failed in Congress, and took various steps to weaken the marketplaces such as shortening enrollment periods and opening up competition from unregulated plans that are cheaper but pay out far lower benefits. Most importantly, the administration is breaking with the convention of defending established law and backing a legal fight to have the entire ACA thrown out as unconstitutional. The Supreme Court is expected to hear the case this year.

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/paulmcleod/coronavirus-obamacare-coverage-trump

Buzzfeed News

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

Katie Notopoulos

Coronavirus Advice: How To Help A Friend With COVID-19, Easter Services, And Daycare Dilemma

The journalists at BuzzFeed News are proud to bring you trustworthy and relevant reporting about the coronavirus. To help keep this news free, become a member and sign up for our newsletter, Outbreak Today. Hi, I’m Katie Notopoulos, a tech reporter here at BuzzFeed News, and I have no actual expertise in epidemiology, but I sure do enjoy telling people how to live their lives. Which means I’m the perfect person to tell you How to Plague. This is BuzzFeed News' advice column for these incredibly confusing times. The coronavirus pandemic is changing rapidly, with new information coming out seemingly by the hour. I’ll try to help with your queries about social distancing etiquette and ethical dilemmas large and small, and call up some actual experts to weigh in when needed. Send me your questions at katie@buzzfeed.com, or sign up for our text messaging service below to send me questions that way. My close friend has had sore throat, ongoing chest pain, and difficulty breathing for the past 3 days. She just went into the ER tonight for COVID-19. She is extremely healthy, fit, and in her early 30s. I'm hopeful she will recover, but I don't know how to help as they aren't allowing visitors. Any thoughts on how to help? –Anonymous, Minnesota Let’s assume there are two scenarios: 1) Your friend is seriously ill and is admitted to the hospital or 2) your friend is discharged quickly to recuperate at home. In scenario one, there’s not much you can do for her directly while she’s in the hospital since you can’t visit her or bring things to the hospital for her. But if she has a partner or kids at home, you can definitely support them. There are two ways you can help support her family right now: Offer to act as the press secretary. Ask her partner (or close relatives if she lives alone) if they’d like your help, obviously. It can be very stressful for her family to deal with a flood of texts and emails asking for updates on her health. Do a group text, email list, or even Facebook updates that will let her wider social circle know what’s going on or how they can help. Offer to act as the conductor of a meal train. Instead of having eight people drop off lasagnas all on the same day, have people sign up to take a day and meal to drop off food and supplies. Leave instructions for how people can safely drop off food without bothering the family or exposing themselves. This website is helpful for organizing a meal train — you can include tasks like grocery shopping that they can’t do themselves right now. In scenario two, she’ll get out quickly but will still need help around her home — and will be unable to go out shopping and probably pretty sick. Find out what items she wants and needs, whether it’s medicine or food or toiletries. Do the meal train with her friends so that she can rest and focus on recovery and not worry about cooking or shopping. My son's daycare is still open as they are hospital-owned. However, on Friday, they told us that they were only going to allow families who work in healthcare, police, fire, or military. They were doing this so that they could free up childcare for the hospital workers. My husband is on mission with the National Guard right now, but I have been working from home and taking my son to daycare. Our daycare director thinks we could still qualify for childcare because of my husband. I technically could keep my son home, but then I wouldn't be able to do my job and I am worried I would lose my job. Do we give up our spot for a healthcare worker or keep it so that my family can stay in our home, feed ourselves, pay bills, etc. (I am the primary breadwinner).–Anonymous Per the daycare’s own rules, you qualify because your husband is in the military. If the daycare director says that it’s OK, it’s OK. He is serving to keep people safe, just like health care workers. The National Guard is being deployed in certain states and areas to help specifically with coronavirus aid, so he’s involved in the effort. I think you don’t need to feel guilty about keeping your kid’s spot in the daycare. However, a question you might ask yourself is if you really want to have your kid in a daycare with health care workers’ kids, since that may put him at higher risk to exposure. Should I plan to see my family for Easter? None of us have symptoms, and we'll have all been quarantined from the rest of society for 7 days by next weekend. I have never not spent Easter with my family. We do not plan to go to church, just a brunch at home.—Kaitlin Unlike Jesus, your family members will not rise from their grave after three days if they catch COVID-19 from one of you and die. This year, skip it. Don’t worry, the Easter Bunny will still come on Zoom. Is it safe to pick up clothes from the dry cleaners? I left my bedroom comforter at a dry cleaner right before all this started, and just got it back today because I'm pretty sure they could shut down at any time. It came in a tied plastic bag, which I took off and disposed of before I entered the house. Should I have somehow disinfected the fabric too, or is going through the dry cleaning process enough?–Anonymous Unfortunately, there isn’t a scientific answer for how long you should wait before touching dry-cleaned clothes, because there’s been no testing on this. Researchers have studied how long the coronavirus can live on metal and plastic (two to three days) and cardboard (up to one day), but there haven’t been firm studies on fabric. The CDC’s recommendation for doing laundry if someone in your home has COVID-19 is to do it on the warmest setting possible and wash your hands after. In general, transmission is far more likely to happen person-to-person than person-to-comforter-to-person, so this probably isn’t going to be your biggest worry — going out to pick up the dry cleaning is potentially more risky than the laundry itself. If you don’t need that comforter immediately (which it sounds like you don’t, since you left it languishing at the cleaners for a few weeks anyway), and it'll put your mind at ease, give it two to three days before using it. A comforter should make you feel warm and reassured, not unsettled and panicked. ●

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/katienotopoulos/how-to-plague-advice-on-helping-friends-with-coronavirus

Buzzfeed News

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

Christopher Miller

Coronavirus Pandemic: An American Is Trapped In Russia. The US Embassy Told Him To Hike To Finland.

Trenton Thurber The journalists at BuzzFeed News are proud to bring you trustworthy and relevant reporting about the coronavirus. To help keep this news free, become a member and sign up for our newsletter, Outbreak Today. As he watched his luggage being loaded onto a plane at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International Airport on March 30, Trenton Thurber felt relieved that he would soon be home in Arizona. But then Russia locked down its borders in the midst of the novel coronavirus pandemic, halting all traffic to and from the country, including Thurber’s flight on a Russian Aeroflot plane to New York’s JFK International Airport. From there he was due to connect to his home in Tucson. Now the 26-year-old is one of the dozens of foreign citizens, including a handful of Americans, marooned inside Moscow’s largest and today mostly empty airport with few food and lodging options — and so far no support from the US government. The advice given to Thurber by the US Embassy in Moscow has not exactly inspired confidence that they’ve got a plan for getting him out. “They said, ‘If you can get to the land border with Finland, that might be OK,’” Thurber told BuzzFeed News by phone on Tuesday. Even if he were crazy enough to attempt that trip, there is no guarantee that the far-fetched idea could even work. The Russia-Finland border is 700 miles away. The journey would need to be done by car, or by a combination of train and car, or plane and then a car. And Thurber would need to cover all the costs himself. Moreover, he could run into trouble due to Russia’s new lockdown measures in cities across the country, which may soon include a QR-code system where people will be assigned individual codes in order to be able to leave their homes. And even if he managed to get to the border, he would have to deal with similarly stringent measures imposed by Finland. “There’s no way to get out,” Thurber said. The US government has been under pressure in recent weeks to assist the thousands of Americans stranded abroad who are trying to get home from as the coronavirus crisis deepens, borders close and air traffic shuts down. On March 19, the State Department issued a Level 4 travel advisory that remains in place today, warning all US citizens not to travel internationally. Secretary of State Pompeo said last month in an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity that the US would do everything it can “to get every American home safely” but warned, “it’ll take us some amount of time.” Neither the State Department nor the US Embassy in Moscow responded to requests for comment about the current situation at Sheremetyevo airport. That situation came as Russia on Wednesday sent a plane full of medical materials to the US to help hospitals in short supply. The delivery, which critics view as a propaganda victory for the Kremlin as it tries to position itself as a leader on the world stage, came after presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin spoke by phone on Monday and agreed to cooperate in the fight against the coronavirus. Russia previously sent medical supplies to Italy but La Stampa newspaper, citing unnamed officials in Rome, reported that 80% of that aid was “useless.” Making matters worse for Thurber, who suffers from asthma, he has a limited supply of the medication he needs to breathe comfortably. Medical experts have said people with asthma are among those most at risk for contracting the coronavirus. “It’s one of the reasons I’m leaving Russia. The climate is not suitable for my asthma,” Thurber said. “I’ve had minor respiratory problems since I moved [to Russia] but it definitely compounds my concerns. Especially with COVID in mind.” COVID-19 is the disease caused by the novel coronavirus that attacks the lungs and has killed more than 40,000 people around the world, including more than 4,000 in the US. Thurber’s mother, Renee, and twin sister, Madison, are also concerned about his health and have pleaded with friends on Facebook for any help. “Our family’s greatest desire is his speedy return to American soil...for the sake of his health,” Madison told BuzzFeed News over WhatsApp. Thurber first arrived in Russia in August 2018 as part of a study program and later began working in customer support for a Russian company that does business in the US. Last May he married Tanya, a resident of St. Petersburg, who remains in the northwestern city with her family while awaiting documents allowing her to move to the US with her husband. Separated from his family, Thurber described feeling alone, frustrated and worried. And he said he was “hemorrhaging money.” Aeroflot, Russia’s flagship carrier, had offered nothing in the way of assistance to him except for saying he was eligible for a voucher to be redeemed when Russia “re-opened” its borders sometime in the future. In a recording he shared with BuzzFeed News of him speaking with an Aeroflot ticket agent, a woman is heard saying in English that the airline has no flights “from Moscow to anywhere” and that he could possibly get a refund for his canceled flight but that it likely wouldn’t reach his account for “two weeks.” Thurber said he had spent Monday night trying to sleep on a chair near the airport’s check-in counters, where he thought he and his luggage would be safe, and dining on airport fast food. “It’s not terrifying, but it’s not comfortable,” he said of the situation. “I don’t speak Russian perfectly. I can order food but, you know, I’m a little bit of a fish out of water.” On Tuesday, unsure of what to do with that luggage, feeling exhausted and realizing he may be stuck for an extended period of time, he decided to check into a small hotel located inside the airport, charging the room to his credit card. Meanwhile, he also sought help from the US Embassy and State Department but found them unable to help or to provide useful updates. Two emails from the State Department that were sent to Thurber and shared with BuzzFeed News show that the US mission to Russia has been “exploring the possibility of chartered flights.” The emails encouraged Thurber to sign up to an email list for updates. But so far the US has been unable to arrange anything of the sort. Thurber said that calls with staffers at the US Embassy have only added more stress to his situation. “It’s more confusing than helpful when you speak to the US embassy here,” he said. “The lack of a hard ‘don’t do this’ or the fact that the information I’ve gotten from them has all kind of been not true — or at least not fully true — it’s kind of compounding the situation.” He conceded, however, that the US government is dealing with an unprecedented situation. “I feel like they’re probably doing the best that they can,” he added. In a video message sent to BuzzFeed News, a masked Thurber looks into the camera while strolling through the empty airport and describes his last exchange with US officials. “The last we heard from the embassy was to get an international flight to any European capital. That’s the embassy in Moscow. They don’t understand the situation. I don’t think,” he says. “They do now, but at first they definitely didn’t.” “The airport’s a ghost town,” he adds. Sheremetyevo International Airport The canceled Aeroflot flight has also put in a bind some 100 Russian citizens who were set to return to Moscow on the return flight. The cancelation left them stranded in New York and sparked outrage directed toward the Russian airline and Putin himself. An open letter signed by the 100 or so passengers that was published on the website of Russia’s Echo of Moscow radio station addresses Putin and other top leaders directly. “Among the passengers are minor children and senior citizens. Aeroflot refused to provide lodging and meals,” it read. “With this letter, we confirm that all passengers...are in distress, unable to pay for their stay in a foreign country themselves.” Responding to the outrage, Russia’s embassy in the US wrote on Facebook that a hotline had been set up for people seeking information about getting home and that the passengers would be put up in hotels temporarily. The embassy urged people to “remain calm” and “not to respond to possible attempts to artificially aggravate the situation, [and not ]to direct dissatisfaction toward Aeroflot employees and Russian diplomats.”

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/christopherm51/coronavirus-american-trapped-in-russia

Buzzfeed News

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

Dean Sterling Jones

Daily Telegraph Gives Chinese Coronavirus Propaganda Direct Line To The UK

The journalists at BuzzFeed News are proud to bring you trustworthy and relevant reporting about the coronavirus. To help keep this news free, become a member and sign up for our newsletter, Outbreak Today. The journalists at BuzzFeed News are proud to bring you trustworthy and relevant reporting about the coronavirus. To help keep this news free, become a member and sign up for our newsletter, Outbreak Today. When medical authorities in China claimed they’d cured more than 750 cases of COVID-19 using pseudoscience, one major British newspaper made sure there was space for China's party line on the story. “Traditional Chinese medicine ‘helps fight coronavirus,'” declared the March 3 headline, in the online version of the Daily Telegraph. Without any evidence, the article claimed that the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine had tested an unidentified “prescription” on 804 patients, and that "by the end of 14 February" it had proven "effective in 94 per cent of the cases." The article was published in a section of the Telegraph’s site called People’s Daily Online, a self-contained “advertisement feature” promising "all the latest stories about contemporary China’s dynamic development, diverse culture and world-leading infrastructure," complete with a home page and sections for news, opinion, business, and sports, among other topics. But beyond a boilerplate disclaimer waiving responsibility, nowhere does the site disclose any information about its sponsor. People’s Daily is the official newspaper and mouthpiece of the Communist Party of China. Its "advertisement feature" on the Telegraph's site is part of a global propaganda campaign that positions the country as a leader in fighting the novel coronavirus pandemic, which has now killed more than 44,000 people worldwide. The Telegraph is one of dozens of newspapers around the world that have struck deals with China in recent years. According to one report, the paper received £750,000 annually to carry the material from the People's Daily, a relationship which, prior to the coronavirus pandemic, had led to accusations that the British newspaper had softened its editorial line on Beijing. The Daily Telegraph and the People's Daily did not return requests for comment. At least 16 articles were taken down on Wednesday, after BuzzFeed News began asking questions. Online archives show that the People's Daily Online began running stories about the coronavirus in February, shortly after China's president Xi Jinping “called upon Chinese media to publish stories casting [China's response] in a positive light,” as Axios reported. Since then, it has run more than 50 paid articles in the Telegraph praising the Chinese government and attacking its foreign adversaries. Unlike the Telegraph’s own coronavirus coverage, much of which is hidden behind a paywall, all of the People's Daily Online content is free to read. Sarah Cook, a senior research analyst at Freedom House and expert on Chinese media, said that exploiting foreign media to reach a mainstream audience is a common strategy of China's propaganda apparatus, known as “borrowing a boat to reach the sea." “The form that has gotten the most attention are the print versions of the China Daily's China Watch supplement in major newspapers in the US, UK, and elsewhere,” Cook told BuzzFeed News. “But many of these supplements also have online versions, which are arguably more insidious because they are even harder for readers to distinguish from the host outlet's reporting.” In one article, “Groundless attack on coronavirus fight belies US failures,” a February 7 opinion piece attributed to Li Da (the name of one of the Chinese Communist Party's founding members, who died in 1966), the People's Daily Online denounced “American media and politicians,” which “are in no position to criticise how China has set about combating the epidemic for the good of all people,” and whose “ridiculous remarks reflect the evil intentions that show a lack of morality.” The article criticized an unidentified New York Times story that reportedly predicted significant losses to China’s economy. According to the People's Daily Online, that story “slandered the Chinese government” because “any practice that points fingers at other countries’ efforts goes against the future of mankind and indulges the virus." The article also cited a since–updated January 28 BuzzFeed News story that originally said people should worry more about the flu. Leveraging that story to downplay the severity of the virus, the People's Daily Online urged its US critics to "please look at the American people suffering from the influenza before you create any nonsense,” adding: “It is hoped that you still have at least something of a conscience.” Other recent articles from the People's Daily Online include "'Onlookers’ in coronavirus epidemic should stop their gloating," "Pompeo’s recent remarks about China another despicable lie," and "Coronavirus outbreak is not an opportunity to score points against China," all self-explanatory. The People's Daily Online doesn't hide its association with the Chinese government. Its site describes itself as a “propaganda and reporting” outlet that takes “important instructions” from “the leading comrades of Xi Jinping ’s Central Committee." While historically known for its "mastery of bore-you-to-tears bureaucratese," according to Foreign Policy magazine, the People's Daily Online's recent articles more closely resemble that of its English-language subsidiary Global Times, whose “saber-rattling” editorials have earned it the nickname “China’s Fox News” from Chinese political journalist Michael Anti. According to Cook, this new, more aggressive style of rhetoric started leaking into the public discourse last year, with Chinese media and state officials adopting “Russia-style tactics” to achieve their goals. “It's definitely something that has taken off steam amid the coronavirus outbreak,” Cook said. However, “for a British audience, this type of more aggressive rhetoric seems counterproductive. I don't see it really convincing people.”

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/deansterlingjones/coronavirus-british-newspaper-chinese-propaganda

Buzzfeed News

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

Addy Baird

Coronavirus Victim: 24-Year-Old Silvia Deyanira Meléndez Has Died Of Covid19, Family Says

The journalists at BuzzFeed News are proud to bring you trustworthy and relevant reporting about the coronavirus. To help keep this news free, become a member and sign up for our newsletter, Outbreak Today. Friends and family are mourning Silvia Deyanira Meléndez, an “angel on earth,” who they say died last week from complications of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. She was 24 years old. “She was a wonderful woman,” her father, Marcos Meléndez, said in a recent phone call with BuzzFeed News. “The day she was born, I was so happy.” Meléndez had undergone heart surgery two years ago and had diabetes, putting her at high risk for the virus, despite her young age. She lived in West Valley City, Utah, and as the pandemic spread in recent weeks, Meléndez’s sister-in-law Angelica Macias said Meléndez was often sending her articles and encouraging her to be safe. “At the end of the day she just wanted anybody to be safe, whether that's her family or not,” Macias said. Macias said Meléndez started to feel sick in early March — around March 11 or 12 — and within days she was very ill, suffering from migraines that lasted for several days and continually throwing up. It is unclear if Melendez had been officially tested for the coronavirus. She was hospitalized at the University of Utah Hospital earlier this month and died there last week. And she wasn’t the only one who got sick — her family said five people in the household had contracted the coronavirus, including Meléndez’s father and siblings. “My daughter was sick already in our home and then coughing constantly,” her father said. “Three days later, my son, my oldest son, went to the hospital to have a test done for the coronavirus and he was positive.” Marcos said his son was getting better, but the family is not able to hold a traditional funeral for Meléndez because of national restrictions on large gatherings. A video service honoring Meléndez will be held Friday. Meléndez’s family and friends said she loved swimming, the ocean, travel, hiking, photography, and her dog, Lilo, a black Lab. She was a helper, her father said, and her best friend said she had a silly side and loved to pull pranks on her friends. She was giving and intuitive, her loved ones said, and known for her empathy and integrity. “I would describe Sylvia as honestly a true angel on earth, and there's not many people — there's actually no other person that I would say that about but Silvia,” her best friend, Acacia Probert, said. “No matter what, no matter what circumstance, no matter what challenge, she always had nothing but love and happiness and sunshine to give. She was literally the most compassionate, selfless human being that I've ever encountered.” Probert said Meléndez had a strong sense of what was right and wrong “until the end of this earth.” She also said her friend wouldn’t want people to just go back to normal in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. “We shouldn't go back to business as usual, you know, we all need to embody more Silvia and be compassionate and empathetic and really respect and understand the fact that as human beings we have an intrinsic obligation to each other and to help take care of each other. And that's everything that Silvia stood for,” Probert said. A GoFundMe campaign was set up to help cover Silvia’s funeral costs. “We understand it's a hard time for many people,” the organizer, Patricio Fernandez, Marco’s cousin, wrote. “If you aren't able to donate, then do us a favor and please stay home. It could save a life.”

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/addybaird/coronavirus-victim-utah-silvia-deyanira-melendez

Buzzfeed News

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

Dan Vergano

Coronavirus: Social Distancing Might Be The New Normal

The journalists at BuzzFeed News are proud to bring you trustworthy and relevant reporting about the coronavirus. To help keep this news free, become a member and sign up for our newsletter, Outbreak Today. How long can a nation of 327 million people endure work and schools closed, lost jobs, and people still dying from a pandemic with no proven treatment? At least until April 30, President Donald Trump acknowledged on Sunday, backing down from earlier calls to end social distancing measures by Easter. Delaware has a “stay at home” order lasting until May 15. On Monday, Virginia issued one lasting until June 10. Meanwhile, the mid-March Imperial College report that projected 2.2 million deaths in the US without social distancing measures — a finding that triggered lockdowns on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean — projected a first round of shutdowns could last five months. The university’s modelers suggested that, after a couple months off, social distancing might then need to pick up again on September 20. Illustration of social distancing on-off periods, measured against ICU cases. “We are probably looking at five to six month phases, done in different ways and times, in different places across the country,” pandemic expert Irwin Redlener, of the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health told BuzzFeed News. “Putting people through that process will be extremely difficult.” A recent spate of think tank reports and scientific presentations expand the Imperial scientists’ vision, suggesting that cities, counties, and towns will need to enact public health lockdowns of varying length, with stops and starts based on if and when coronavirus cases hint at rising again. This cyclical approach to social distancing in order to limit COVID-19 deaths depends on measures such as intensive care unit availability and cases dropping for two weeks or longer. To work — limiting the US death toll to hundreds of thousands of lives lost instead of millions — they demand widespread, fast, and accurate tests, a fortified healthcare system, and public health officials having the breathing room to track down and isolate new cases before they can spread. Most of all they require endurance from people nationwide, along with the kind of financial assistance typically delivered to victims of natural disasters rather than economic downturns, noted Redlener, to help as unemployment surges to record heights. “Once you are doing it, you have to have the patience to see it through,” University of Michigan pandemic historian Howard Markel, widely credited with coining the phrase “flatten the curve,” said at a National Academy of Medicine briefing on social distancing last week. “If you pull the trigger off too early, not only will the circulating virus do what it naturally does, but all the economic and social disruptions are for nothing.” The US is just at the start of its first social distancing cycle, with upwards of 186,000 coronavirus cases and at least 3,600 deaths as of Wednesday afternoon. Nationwide, all 50 states have issued emergency declarations, with at least 30 issuing stay-at-home orders, and another 4 ordering the lesser step of just business closures, according to the National Association of Counties. States with social distancing orders, as of March 30. Cities such as New York, New Orleans, and Detroit continue to see their case counts climb, while Washington State, where US community spread of the novel coronavirus was first spotted in late February, is watching to see if case numbers have perhaps started to flatten. Even if social distancing measures that started in March in the US work to slow increases, the last half of April is expected to see peaks in cases in these first cities, with more places across the country reporting outbreaks thereafter. California governor Gavin Newsom said on Tuesday that he expects his state’s cases to peak in May. “We are not a small town. We are a big country and it has allowed transmission to continue to a point where most cases are undetected, even now,” Harvard pandemic modeler Marc Lipsitch said at the National Academy of Medicine meeting. “So what we can do is social distancing.” Without social distancing, the Imperial College report foresaw 2.2 million US deaths from the coronavirus, a number that Trump referenced on Monday in explaining why he extended federal social distancing guidelines. He added that keeping US deaths an order of magnitude lower — still reaching an estimated 100,000 to 200,000 deaths — was the goal of the effort. “Every citizen, family, and business has a role to play in stopping this virus,” said Trump. But while the president described 30 days as the end for social distancing, the models he referenced see it as only the beginning. In fact, several of these plans see social distancing as a necessary new normal. Decline in US foot traffic measures in 2020. Wuhan, China, which started a severe travel lockdown in late January, is the reason why social distancing is happening in the US now, Lipsitch said. Deaths in the Chinese city of 11 million peaked four weeks after restrictions started, a widely disputed 2,500 people, and those limits are finally set to end on April 8, two months after the city was effectively cut off from the rest of the world. Daily new case counts in China have dropped to as low as 81 on Monday. All eyes will be on the city to see if cases continue to stay low even as it emerges from lockdown. One US plan for halting social distancing put forward by the University of Pennsylvania’s Ezekiel Emanuel, a former NIH official in the Obama administration, calls for a nationwide “shelter in place” order. The plan includes exceptions for counties with low enough case counts to allow public health officials to trace every case, and would last until June 1, an eight to ten-week shutdown. Such a long, severe shutdown would enable US hospitals currently facing unprecedented patient volumes and dangerously low supplies of PPE and ventilators to spread out their caseloads and more easily share resources. Rapid tests could roll out to identify new cases before they lead to further spread, and a certification system for people who already had the virus and were immune could be established in that time. “If these steps are taken, we should slowly open up parts of the economy in June, while requiring those 70 and older, or others at high risk, to continue to shelter in place, perhaps in isolation,” Emanuel wrote in the New York Times on March 28. A different “road map”, pushed by former FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb, envisions state-by-state endings to social distancing lockdowns. The loosening restrictions would be timed to hospitals having empty beds and a two-week drop in cases, as well as states having enough caseworkers to trace new infections. Looking past periods of sustained social distancing, teleworking should become the rule, not the exception, Gottlieb said. He has also stressed that more Americans should wear masks on a daily basis, and gatherings should be limited to 50 people, until a third phase of more loosened restrictions seems reasonable. The proposed road maps clearly describe the rules for stopping social distancing, needed so that people will cooperate with the process, say experts. “We’re ringing a lot of bells in this country and we need to know how to unring them,” University of Minnesota infectious disease outbreak researcher Michael Osterholm said at a Council of Foreign Relations briefing on Tuesday. But he called the Emanuel and Gottlieb plans more aspirational than practical right now. Alongside the massive backlogs of tests and medical equipment shortages, we are running out of the parts needed to build the massive numbers of ventilators that they imagine. One added unknown factor in the outbreak is the seasonality of the novel coronavirus, said Lipsitch, which changes the calculus of social distancing. If warmer temperatures and higher humidity cut the transmission rate of the virus, as some preliminary studies suggest, then a single longer period of social distancing that cuts into those summer months of low transmission might be a mistake. If you stop social distancing in June, then cases build until a peak in the warm month of August. If you stop social distancing in August the next peak comes in October, where it would coincide with the flu season. Such a rapid rise in illness could overwhelm hospitals in a second wave of outbreaks like the 1918 Spanish flu, something to consider when weighing lifting restrictions in northern cities like Detroit as opposed to warmer ones like New Orleans. “If we tried a policy of one-shot social distancing, it is treacherous,” Lipsitch said. “One-shot social distancing could make things worse.” Seasonality remains a mystery, said Osterholm, suggesting that as long as 40% to 80% of the public still has no immunity to the new virus, it will likely readily spread regardless. “At this point, I don’t have a clue what is going to happen to the virus.” The alternative to “one-shot” social distancing, contemplated by the Imperial College study and the Gottlieb plan, is an alternating cycle of tighter and looser restrictions until we have treatment or vaccine options. Vaccine trials are currently underway, but a usable vaccine is estimated to take at least 18 months to develop, and any vaccine would need to first be made available to healthcare workers and people most at risk like the elderly and the already ill. Coronavirus vaccines have to be carefully evaluated for their safety because past studies have shown that targeting the wrong part of the virus with one can produce one that makes it more dangerous, vaccinologist Peter Hotez of the Baylor College of Medicine told BuzzFeed News. Lipsitch suggested that cycles of turning social distancing restrictions on and off could also be triggered by hospital capacity in a city or state, with loosening happening when hospitalizations fall to 0.2 per 10,000 people, and turned back on again when they reach 0.75 per 100,000 people. This threshold rests on the nationwide average of empty ICU beds, around 0.9 per 10,000 people, but that number varies widely across the country, with some rural counties having zero critical care beds. Doubling ICU beds across the country is one measure that would allow for longer pauses between restarts of tighter restrictions. Social distancing cycles through 2021, turned on and off by critical cases, reducing infections by 60%. The goal of this is to allow infections to grow at a manageable rate that doesn’t lead to overwhelmed hospitals, while herd immunity to the virus slowly grows in the larger population. A wild card in this will be imported cases as travel restrictions ease up, something China is struggling with now. In all these visions, life would need to emerge changed by the pandemic. Rules about hand washing, keeping apart, and coughing into your elbow will need to become polite behaviour. Contrary to the American work ethic, people will have to take sick days when they are sick. Gottlieb’s roadmap also calls for erecting a system of verifying recovered cases, the driver's license of the coronavirus era, to let people get back to work. But questions remain about how people remain immune to the virus. It also requires the development of reliable widespread blood tests for antibodies, which so far has remained maddeningly disorganized, said Princeton epidemiologist Jessica Metcalf, who spoke at the CFR event on Tuesday. “Where is the CDC in all of this?” she asked, Under those conditions, business and then schools might open on a voluntary basis. Other experts have suggested that we might see the establishment of a waiting room approach to daily life. Testing could be required before entering the grocery store or other essential businesses, especially if rapid tests become widespread, Baylor molecular virologist Joseph Petrosino told BuzzFeed News. “You pull into the parking lot, and a drive-through testing center takes a sample. And then you wait in the car with your phone until you are cleared to work,” he said. Such testing would start with healthcare workers, and then expand as capacity increases. For this to work, we will need to develop a widely-available, nationwide genetic test for the active presence of the virus, something still missing from the US response. South Korea has pioneered this sort of approach, with widespread testing allowing better control of its outbreak, at least so far. All of that is far from the current reality in the US. Testing availability is still the bottleneck across the country, where some jurisdictions have been forced to restrict tests to the sickest patients, and elsewhere shortages of reagent and even cotton swabs have limited how many tests can be run. Private labs, too, have struggled with a backlog of tests. Like many scientists, Petrosino had transformed his lab, which normally investigates the genes of microbes turned up in the field, to create testing kits in order to help test Baylor’s doctors and nurses for infections. The waiting room approach to managing the spread of the coronavirus could be helped by a small portable testing device by biotechnology company Abbott, which received FDA approval on March 27. Touted at a White House event on Monday and aimed first at urgent care centers, the machine takes just 5 minutes for a positive result and 13 minutes for a negative one. People will have to be more patient if such widespread testing is rolled out — making every day like a visit to the DMV, waiting for your number to be called to go to work, or else to test positive and face quarantine and interviews from health workers trying to trace the origin of the case. “Just sheltering forever in our homes is not likely,” Nicholas Christakis of Yale’s Human Nature Lab, told a JAMA podcast on Tuesday. Some states, like Kentucky, which instituted restrictions early, might end them sooner than states like next-door neighbor Tennessee, which waited until longer and has seen higher case counts. “We need to figure out how we are going to live in a time of plague.” However these cycles of social restrictions play out, they will leave a changed nation, hopefully ending with herd immunity, better treatment, better testing, and a vaccine, Christakis said. Perhaps all of these would help stop the number of deaths currently seen across the world. “The truth is that a lot of these decisions are going to have to be made by state and local leaders who won’t have perfect information about what to do, so the response is going to look different everywhere, because every place is different,” said Redlener, the Columbia public health expert. He expects tighter restrictions to last longer in hard-hit locales, given a natural reluctance by political leaders to see death numbers rise again in their community. “We are going to learn a lot of lessons here about ourselves,” he said. “I’m hoping we come out of this a stronger, more resilient people.”

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/danvergano/coronavirus-distancing-new-normal

Buzzfeed News

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

Julia Reinstein

Man Accused Of Attempted Murder Of Asian American Family Could Face Hate Crime Charges

A man who allegedly tried to kill an Asian American family of three because he believed they were spreading the coronavirus at a Sam's Club in Texas could face hate crime charges, the FBI told BuzzFeed News on Wednesday. Jose L. Gomez, 19, stabbed the three people on March 14 at the Midland, Texas, Sam's Club before being taken down by a store employee, who saved the family's lives and was injured in the process, police told BuzzFeed News. Gomez was then taken into custody by an off-duty Border Patrol agent. He was charged with three counts of attempted capital murder and one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Bernie Ramirez, the Border Patrol agent, told CBS7 he initially approached Gomez and family with the intention of breaking up what he thought was a fight over scarce goods. Ramirez said "credit is due" to the store employee, Zach Owen, who stopped Gomez by putting him in a chokehold and suffered stab wounds to the hand in the process. "He went into a knife fight bare-handed," Ramirez said. "He took control of the individual and he disarmed him. If Zach had not been there, things could’ve gone really badly.” Ramirez did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The father in the family declined to comment. Gomez allegedly stabbed the three "because he thought the family was Chinese, and infecting people with the coronavirus," the FBI stated in a document obtained by ABC News. An FBI spokesperson told BuzzFeed News they were unable to comment on the document but confirmed that the case is being treated as a possible hate crime. According to the FBI report, federal law enforcement officials are warning there could be a surge in hate crimes against Asian Americans. "The FBI assesses hate crime incidents against Asian Americans likely will surge across the United States, due to the spread of coronavirus disease … endangering Asian American communities," the document reportedly states. "The FBI makes this assessment based on the assumption that a portion of the US public will associate COVID-19 with China and Asian American populations." The Texas stabbing was just one of the many racist attacks Asian Americans have been facing amid the coronavirus pandemic's rise in the US. On March 11, a woman in New York punched another woman for not wearing a face mask and "made anti-Asian statements and fled the location on foot." In February, a 16-year-old boy was sent to the hospital after being physically attacked by bullies who accused him of having the coronavirus. One couple in Minnesota got a note on their door that said, "we’re watching you" and "take the Chinese virus back to China." President Donald Trump has deliberately referred to COVID-19 as the "Chinese virus" on multiple occasions, which critics have seen as a way of scapegoating China and, in turn, inciting hatred and harassment of people of Asian descent. The World Health Organization has urged people not to attach locations or ethnicity to the virus to prevent social stigma. When questioned, Trump defended his use of the term. “It's not racist at all, no. Not at all,” Trump said. “It comes from China.” The FBI spokesperson told BuzzFeed News the agency "will use all authority granted to us by federal law to investigate and hold those who commit violent acts accountable for their actions." "During the COVID-19 pandemic, we want to remind everyone that any violent criminal act against any person because of their race, ethnicity or national origin is a hate crime," the spokesperson said. "This includes violence toward Asian Americans or individuals from East Asian countries."

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/juliareinstein/man-attempted-murder-asian-american-family

Buzzfeed News

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

Brianna Sacks

People Who Give Out Free Costco Samples Lose Jobs Because Of The Coronavirus

The journalists at BuzzFeed News are proud to bring you trustworthy and relevant reporting about the coronavirus. To help keep this news free, become a member and sign up for our newsletter, Outbreak Today. Costco, one on the world’s largest retailers, is cutting ties with the contracting company that handled its in-store samples because of decreased foot traffic due to the coronavirus outbreak, according to an internal memo obtained by BuzzFeed News. On Monday, Costco notified its warehouse managers that it would no longer employ contractors with San Diego-based Club Demonstration Services to clean its warehouses and would shift those responsibilities to its own employees. Earlier this month, Costco shifted some CDS contractors, who typically prepare and present single-serving food and drink samples, into roles cleaning facilities so that they could keep their jobs. “Over the past 4 weeks you have all partnered with our CDS teams to increase warehouse sanitation for our members and employees,” Ron Vachris, Costco’s chief operating officer, wrote on March 30. “As our traffic in the warehouses has slowed due to various state directives, we will assume these duties with Costco employees effective April 6th.” Vachris assured managers that the company would resume in-store samples “as soon as possible,” describing the service as “part of our DNA.” Sources told BuzzFeed News that CDS was laying off all of its employees by Sunday. "Nobody knows when or if the company will ever come back," a19-year-old former CDS employee in California told BuzzFeed News in an email Thursday night. "They are giving us pretty much no information except 'thanks for the help, bye!' We deserved more than that. Also we deserved more of a job security than what they gave us, only a few days warning." Costco’s shift is just the latest example in the changing labor environment as corporations attempt to deal with the economic realities presented by the novel coronavirus. Even Costco, which initially experienced a surge in business as shoppers flocked to its stores to stock up and prepare, has shown it's not immune. Spokespeople for Costco and CDS did not immediately return requests for comment. Costco shut down sample service last month, according to a previous internal memo obtained by BuzzFeed News. The company continued to partner with CDS, which reportedly employed about 30,000 people at hundreds of Costco warehouses, for cleaning and sanitation. Business Insider had also reported on the change in their roles. Monday’s note gave no timeline as to when Costco would begin its relationship with CDS again. Vachis noted that the contracting company would be working with its employees to ensure they obtained state and federal assistance. “CDS will offer all employees their current position and current pay status when we resume,” he said. Current Costco employees previously told BuzzFeed News that the CDS workers were on “sanitization teams” and were tasked with wiping down shopping areas and other “grunt work.” Four Costco employees from warehouses across the country worried about their CDS colleagues doing that type of labor because many were elderly and seen as “high-risk” for contracting COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. “They had the worst job, always cleaning,” a supervisor at a Costco Warehouse in Oregon told BuzzFeed News. “Most were in their 70s.” A manager in New Jersey said his warehouse was going to try and hire some of the 20 or so fired CDS workers, as some of the contractors had been working in that store for nearly 20 years. “My boss told me these ladies have been with us, let’s figure this out and hire them back as seasonal employees,” the manager said. “Our heart is broken, but anyone that stood with us this far we will try and keep. I also heard the same response from several general managers in my area.”

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/briannasacks/costco-contractor-cds-free-samples

Buzzfeed News

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

Salvador Hernandez

Zoombombing Incidents Overwhelm Online Classes And Meeting With Racist Slurs

The journalists at BuzzFeed News are proud to bring you trustworthy and relevant reporting about the coronavirus. To help keep this news free, become a member and sign up for our newsletter, Outbreak Today. When she founded WOC Space, Tiara Moore envisioned a virtual place where professional women of color could meet, socialize, and offer support in a safe setting. Then when "stay at home" orders began to be issued across the country, Moore believed the group's weekly meetings were more important than ever. They offered moral support, tips, and relief to the isolation of working from home by being able to connect people via Zoom. So on Monday she logged onto the video conferencing app and continued working on her computer, waiting for the handful of members to join her. "I wasn't even looking at my screen and I hear a girl and she's like, 'I saw this on Twitter," Moore told BuzzFeed News. "I said, 'Oh, hey girl!' and she said, 'Yeah, but you should be careful because you can get hacked.'" The virtual room instantly filled with what seemed like 100 people, Moore said, with multiple people yelling racist slurs at the same time. It was chaos — but the n-word, being repeatedly yelled in the middle of it, could be heard distinctly. "I immediately closed it down like, what just happened," she said. With schools closed and people across the country working from home, the use of teleconferencing has exploded during the coronavirus pandemic. Business executives, government officials, and kindergarten classes have flocked to apps like Zoom, which have become vital to day-to-day work and life during the pandemic. Unfortunately, racists and trolls have also taken advantage of the app, sneaking their way into unsuspecting meetings and online gatherings, usually bombarding them with pornographic images or racist attacks. "I felt personally attacked," Moore said. "I was super emotional. I cried and I was like, 'It's 2020, what the fuck!'" The incident was so frustrating Moore decided to cancel the next Tuesday meeting. "It's so heartbreaking and, for me to be promoting this virtual safe space and to be attacked, it's so devastating," she said. Lamar Elementary School principal Erin Honeycutt sets up a “Zoom” class for first through fifth graders. The incidents have become so prevalent that the FBI stepped in Monday, offering their own tips to keep online meetings secure and asking people to report incidents to its Internet Crime Complaint Center. "As large numbers of people turn to video-teleconferencing (VTC) platforms to stay connected in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, reports of VTC hijacking (also called "Zoom-bombing") are emerging nationwide," the agency said. "The FBI has received multiple reports of conferences being disrupted by pornographic and/or hate images and threatening language." The FBI's Boston office is in particular looking at two incidents, including one where a Massachusetts school's session was interrupted by someone who took off his shirt to display swastika tattoos. Social media posts show that "Zoombombing" incidents have become widespread in recent days. In particular, college classes and students have become targets, usually with attackers disrupting meetings with racist language. Jessica Jackson, a second-year student at UCLA, was logging into her astronomy class on Tuesday when it was hijacked within five minutes. "[The professor] gave them the space to ask their question and then was bombarded by someone repeatedly referring to him as the n-word," Jackson told BuzzFeed News. "Having to leave our universities abruptly because of the pandemic has been taxing enough as it is. It's wild to think that now we have to worry about virtual harassment when we're all just trying to learn and get our degree." Jackson grabbed her phone and was able to record some of the mayhem that ensued, sharing it on Twitter. The call was ended a few seconds later, she said, and the professor sent out a second Zoom link to students. That call then was hijacked as well. Since then, her professor told students in an email the incident has been reported to school officials and is being investigated. "It was unbelievably frustrating," she said. Professors at other schools and universities have reported similar incidents. Ryan Stoldt, a teacher at University of Iowa, told BuzzFeed News he was hosting online office hours Tuesday for students when someone jumped on the call and started to make sexual noises. "I launched [the call], had three random people join my room, heard sexual moans start and closed the room before anyone that actually wanted help jumped on," he said. At the University of Texas at Austin, an online meeting hosted by the Herman Sweatt Center for Black Males, an organization supporting black students at the university, was hijacked by people who started to shout racist slurs. The call was set up to help give students tools to stay focused during the coronavirus pandemic, but the director of the center told KXAN they had to end the call within 20 minutes because of the racist outbursts. University president Greg Fenves said the school was investigating the incident. Some of the disruptions to classes are suspected of being from fellow students, but experts suspect Zoombombing has also been adopted as a tactic by white supremacist and racist groups, many of which have historically targeted colleges and universities. "There is concern that extremists could exploit the increasing reliance on video conference technology to target certain groups or advance their hateful messages," the Anti-Defamation League said in a statement, where it also offered tips to avoid the trolling. "Across various social media platforms, extremists have already seized on the coronavirus pandemic as a vehicle to spread their hate and conspiracies." Among its tips, the organization, which tracks anti-Semitic hate and other racist incidents, recommends disabling autosaving chats, assigning two co-hosts, muting all participants, and locking the meeting once all attendees are present. Last week, Zoom released a video offering tips on how to prevent Zoombombing, including using its waiting room feature —which requires the host to approve people coming into the call — and limiting who can share content on the calls. Zoom also recommends that people not share the link to their meetings on social media, where trolls could search for and target them. It also recently updated its default settings for teachers, to keep them in control of what content is being shared in a virtual classroom, the company said in a statement to BuzzFeed News. "We are deeply upset to hear about the incidents involving this type of attack. We take the security of Zoom meetings seriously and in order to prevent such incidents from occurring, we strongly encourage users to arrange their settings so that only hosts can share their screens, and utilize features such as 'Waiting Room' and host muting controls," the company said. The company added it was committed to maintaining a respectful and inclusive environment and encouraged anyone with issues to report them to its support team. Going forward, Moore said she plans to be more careful with her meetings and plans to use a password from now on. She also won't be sharing the link widely on Twitter anymore. It's disappointing, she said, because she used to be happy to have newcomers unexpectedly join the calls. She realizes now, she can't do that anymore. She's also filed a report with Zoom. "It's a whole pandemic," she said, "and y'all have to do better."

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/salvadorhernandez/zoom-coronavirus-racist-zoombombing

Buzzfeed News

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

Emmanuel Felton

Samantha Bee Is Filming From Her Backyard During The Coronavirus

The journalists at BuzzFeed News are proud to bring you trustworthy and relevant reporting about the coronavirus. To help keep this news free, become a member and sign up for our newsletter, Outbreak Today. Samantha Bee may be stuck at home like the rest of us, but the show must go on. Bee returned to television last week with a new iteration of her late-night show, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, for the coronavirus age. In addition to homeschooling their children together, Bee and her husband of nearly 20 years, fellow Canadian-American comedian Jason Jones, are working together to put out Beeing at Home with Samantha Bee, taped from their backyard in upstate New York. “Having another place to put energy is very helpful to us right now, otherwise you can spend all day literally crying,” Bee told BuzzFeed News' AM to DM in an interview from her home on Wednesday. Bee says that the couple has a long history of collaborating so doing the show from their backyard just made sense. “We have worked together on low-budget stuff all the time," Bee explained. "We’ve duct-taped things, we’ve rigged stuff that should have been impossible." "Really the two of us doing it together is such a pleasure, this is like going back to our roots," added Bee. "Listen we don’t want to be doing the show in the forest, but if we’re in the forest we can do a show there. And we’re having fun with it." Bee, however, concedes that the forest has presented some new challenges for the couple. “We were filming yesterday and we had to hold production because my neighbor was chainsawing logs," said Bee. A few days before, there was a hawk hunting in the area as they tried to tape. The hawk circled above Bee while screeching loudly. “We had to hold for hawk," she said. Bee and husband aren't the only couple putting out late-night content from their homes. For their piece chronicling the return of late-night television, the New York Times spoke to Molly McNearney, co-head writer of Jimmy Kimmel Live and Kimmel's wife. “I was the prop master and camera person and lighting person,” she told the Times. “We didn’t even worry about hair and makeup.” While Bee says she is enjoying making the show from home for now, she is looking forward to the day when she can go back into a studio with a live audience. “That's like oxygen to me, hearing people's laughter and claps," she said. "But I don’t mind having the birds and squirrels as my audience for now. Maybe that’s a testimony to how many empty rooms I’ve played in my life."

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/emmanuelfelton/samantha-bee-coronavirus

Buzzfeed News

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

Tasneem Nashrulla

Coronavirus: Workers At Clothing Stores Ann Taylor, American Eagle, Anthropologie Dispute Pay

An Ann Taylor store in Pennsylvania. The journalists at BuzzFeed News are proud to bring you trustworthy and relevant reporting about the coronavirus. To help keep this news free, become a member and sign up for our newsletter, Outbreak Today. In response to the coronavirus pandemic, big clothing brands, including Ann Taylor, American Eagle, and Anthropologie, shut their stores across the world but earned praise for announcing they'd pay their store employees during the closures. But employees told BuzzFeed News that the companies are misleading them as well as the public. Store associates ended up getting paid very little or nothing after stores cut their scheduled shifts before announcing the closures. And employees said the companies have failed at communicating with them during the pandemic. “They’ve been misleading, manipulative, and created far more stress in an already stressful time,” an Ann Taylor store manager, who requested anonymity for fear of losing her job like several other people who spoke for this article, told BuzzFeed News. “People who shop there were texting me saying they were so happy Ann Taylor was paying associates and I had to tell them they actually weren’t. Everyone is angry, clients, managers, associates. Everyone.” [If you're someone who is seeing the impact of the coronavirus firsthand, we’d like to hear from you. Reach out to us via one of our tip line channels.] BuzzFeed News reached out to some employees after they commented on a BuzzFeed post about companies that said they were paying associates through the crisis. In a now-edited announcement on their website, Ann Taylor said they were closing their stores from March 18 to March 28. “Our associates are at the heart of what we do, and they will be paid for their scheduled shifts during this time,” Gary Muto, the CEO of Ascena Retail Group, whose brands include Ann Taylor, LOFT, and Lou and Grey, said in the announcement. After BuzzFeed News reached out to Ann Taylor for comment on the morning of March 27, the part about them paying store associates was removed from Muto’s statement on the website. The Ann Taylor store manager told BuzzFeed News that store associates “got absolutely nothing.” “No pay at all,” she said. “If they did get paid, it was the people who usually work 25+ hours and we snuck them on for three hours for one day to cover managers breaks.” She said that Ann Taylor first directed managers like her to cut associates’ shifts back on March 12, a week before they closed stores. A few days later, more associates’ shifts were cut when Ann Taylor reduced their store hours. Then, on March 16, managers were told to operate on “minimum coverage,” which meant that only two people from the management team would be scheduled to work, she said. This meant that no associates were put on the schedule. “This was a full 24 hours before we knew we were closing,” she said. “We had associates on the other side of the phone crying saying we couldn’t cut their shifts because they wouldn’t be able to pay rent. It was one of the worst things I’ve ever witnessed.” So when Ann Taylor publicly announced the next day that they would pay store associates through the closures, it caused confusion and anger among employees, the manager said. “The store associates were calling and texting asking if they were getting paid now after we had just told them they weren’t getting paid,” the manager said. “It didn’t just mislead the public, it misled the people who work for the company. A company spokesperson declined to comment. The company has since furloughed all store associates until it can reopen stores. “We found out on March 24th that we had to call everyone from home and tell them they were furloughed,” the Ann Taylor manager said. “Associates are able to use up the rest of their sick time if they choose to, which they have very little of." In a letter to employees published on StreetInsider.com, Muto said, “Furloughing our [store] associates is one of the most challenging decisions we have ever had to make as an organization.” He said that it was “incredibly disheartening” for the company to take this step “due to the unpredictable and unimaginable impact of COVID-19.” “I want you to know that as a furloughed associate, you are still very much part of our team, and it is our goal to recall you to work as soon as possible,” Muto’s letter said. The Ann Taylor employee said the company used managers like her as “puppets” and made them look like “the bad guys.” She said that other managers she has talked to across the company’s brands felt that the company had treated store employees unfairly. “When we go back to work I am going to have a team full of women who dislike me because the company made us the bad guys,” she said. “We were the people responsible for doing all these awful things.” A sign on the door to American Eagle in Arizona In a news release on March 17, American Eagle Outfitters Inc announced they were closing their stores at least until March 27 and that “all store associates will be compensated for scheduled time during that period.” Naomi Slack, a store associate at an American Eagle in Oklahoma City, called the statement a "cleverly-worded lie." Slack, 43, told BuzzFeed News that while American Eagle said they would pay associates for "scheduled" shifts, it didn't say "we'll just take you off the schedule." "That's so shitty," Slack said. Slack, who was hired at American Eagle a little over a week before they closed their stores, was expecting to be scheduled for at least 10 hours a week as a part-time store associate. But on Tuesday, when Slack logged into the employee website to check how many hours she would be getting paid for, "I felt like I got punched in the gut." "I got zero hours because I got scheduled for zero hours," Slack said. Slack, who still has her day job at another company, said she was depending on the approximately $100 she would have gotten from American Eagle to go towards her medical treatments and the "extra money I need every month to make sure I don't overdraft my checking account by pay day." Slack said American Eagle's statement to the public and to employees about paying store associates for their scheduled shifts did not clarify that some associates like her would not get scheduled at all. "They shouldn't get the press they're getting for being kind to their employees. when they're not," she said. Slack provided BuzzFeed News with screenshots of group chats in which her store manager informed associates about closures and the pay schedule during that period. In one message on March 18, Slack's coworker asked their store manager, "So we will get scheduled but not have to come in and we will get payed (sic) for those days!!"The store manager replied, "That's the idea BUT if corporate feels we 'overscheduled' they can pull the hours out. Hopefully we fell into their guidelines." He later added that not everyone was scheduled and that priority was given to leaders and core associates. "Then if hours were left, we could schedule flex associates," Slack's store manager said in the chat. Slack told BuzzFeed News that she had never been told she was a "flex associate" and did not even know what it meant. When she found out she had not been scheduled to work at all during the store closures, Slack asked the store manager about it. "I know that you guys were going to scale down but I didn't think it would be to zero [hours]," Slack told him. "We only had a limited amount of hours to use," her manager replied. "The priority was full time at 40 then our core staff at at least 12. after that there really wasn't much to use." When Slack lamented to him about needing the money, the manager told her, "It's something new none of us have gone through." Slack said she will look for another second job soon. She said that American Eagle should have paid all their store associates for the two weeks. "They have more than enough money to do it," she said. "It's a billion dollar-brand." In a message to her direct manager, Slack complained about the company's misleading statement. "It's shady," Slack said in the message. "Feels like a dirty trick after what they said cuz I could have started working on another job somewhere else 3 weeks ago." Her manager replied, "I understand how frustrating it can be, just know that you are not alone." A 21-year-old store associate for American Eagle in Oregon told BuzzFeed News that the company's statement about paying store associates was “misleading." On March 16, the associate — who did not wish to be identified for fear of losing her job — said she got a call from her manager after the company shortened their store hours. She was scheduled to work for three shifts that week, but due to the reduced hours, the manager had to cut two of the shifts. The next day, she found out — through an American Eagle mass email sent to all customers on their subscription list — that they were closing all their stores. Only after that email did her store manager told associates via group text that their store was closing. “So before the decision to close the store was made, associates were called and asked to reschedule or cut their shifts, that they otherwise would have been compensated for,” the associate told BuzzFeed News. She said that if her scheduled shifts had not been cut she would have made $135 (before taxes) for the week. After two of her three shifts were cut, she made only $45 for the week after stores closed. “While I am thankful for the time I was compensated for, it’s upsetting that what I would have normally been paid was cut over half for my last check until further notice,” the associate said. “This has affected me greatly financially. Like many store employees, I do not know when I will be making an income again, and am having trouble applying for unemployment since American Eagle has not laid off their employees yet.” The company did not reopen their stores on March 27 as previously announced, and associates have not heard from the company about when the stores will likely reopen or if they will be paid during this time. She doesn't know of any associate who had shifts scheduled this far out, which means they wouldn't be compensated. She added that there has been “minimal communication” from the American Eagle. The assistant store manager sent associates a group text on March 27 informing them about how they could send photos to be posted to the store’s Instagram account during the closure. The manager “casually mentioned, ‘While we don’t have a date for when we return…’ but did not expand on that,” the associate said. On Monday, the store assistant manager contacted the associates on group text to tell them the company had given associates a coupon code for 25% off. “Not exactly the compensation some of us were hoping for,” the associate said. She said that associates still haven’t received a company email about what the continued store closures mean store employees. “I unfortunately do feel the company could be handling this situation better,” she said. “I feel at the very least, clear and consistent communication directly with the employees would make a positive difference.” American Eagle Outfitters did not return multiple requests for comment. An Anthropologie store in California in 2019. URBN, which includes brands like like Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters, Free People, BHLDN, and Terrain, publicly announced they were closing all their global stores on March 14 and that they would continue to pay store employees. But Anthropologie "said they'd pay employees publicly but have so far made no attempt to give employees any actual information about what's going on and after announcing they'd pay for scheduled hours, promptly took everyone off the schedule. Workers with 30+ hours a week are getting only 8 hours ‘quarantine pay,’” one person commented on BuzzFeed. When asked about the commenter's claims, URBN said in a statement to BuzzFeed News, that it was “standard business practice for retailers to adjust store associate schedules according to traffic and demand trends.” The statement said that "due to the impact of COVID-19 and the rapidly declining retail store environment during the week of March 9th" store employees' schedules "had been adjusted downward.” “We understand employees may question the timing of this change, but these two decisions were 100% mutually exclusive as we continued to react quickly and ever changing conditions,” the statement said. “Notwithstanding deteriorating conditions in the market, we chose to honor those scheduled hours.” On Tuesday, March 31, URBN announced that they were furloughing “a number of store, wholesale and home office employees” for 60 days as store closures "continued for the foreseeable future." The company said that impacted employees will continue to receive enrolled benefits during their furlough and be able to collect unemployment compensation. “We will make every effort to assist those furloughed in receiving all benefits available to them,” URBN said. In the meantime, store associates are struggling to make ends meet. The 21-year-old American Eagle store associate said she was having trouble qualifying for unemployment. "I normally have two jobs that I am financially dependent on (as well as providing child care), and my other job laid me off, so I have been filing for unemployment since I was laid off from that job on [March 20],” she said. She said unemployment representatives had advised her to continue applying weekly even though she was still employed by American Eagle. “I still have not heard anything back from the unemployment office, however,” she said.

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/tasneemnashrulla/coronavirus-clothing-brands-ann-taylor-anthropologie-worker

Buzzfeed News

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

Ryan Brooks

Where Is Joe Biden? Online, Drowned Out By Coronavirus And Trump

The journalists at BuzzFeed News are proud to bring you trustworthy and relevant reporting about the coronavirus. To help keep this news free, become a member and sign up for our newsletter, Outbreak Today. There was a time not long ago when there was a relatively normal presidential campaign with regular campaign events — when Joe Biden and Donald Trump flew around the country rallying their supporters preparing for a relatively normal general election. That time is very much over. What’s left of the presidential campaign is now happening almost exclusively online and on TV. For Trump, that’s been fine: the coronavirus pandemic has given him an endless media platform through daily televised briefings. And Trump has been very online since becoming a presidential candidate five years ago; his digital director from that first campaign, known for valuing Facebook over traditional media, is now his reelection campaign manager. It’s been a steeper adjustment for Biden. His sudden surge to likely Democratic presidential nominee came just as the coronavirus began to spread across the US, leaving a former senator and vice president never known for being hip to the internet in the position of trying to build a broad, Trump-defeating coalition via Zoom. "In some ways this is the world that every digital person in every digital story you’ve ever written has said would come,” Biden digital director Rob Flaherty told BuzzFeed News in a telephone interview Wednesday. “I think one of the things that’s interesting is that the stuff that we’re doing now is not that different than the stuff that we would need to do to win in a general [election]." Biden campaign officials said they began discussing the need for digital alternatives in late January, before the coronavirus became a severe health crisis in the US. (Biden expressed concerns at the time in a USA Today opinion piece.) For example, they knew they’d need a TV studio in his hometown, Wilmington, Delaware. But they didn’t realize that stay-at-home orders and social distancing would require one to be built in Biden’s basement. Nearly every aspect of the first days of Biden’s dispatches from that new broadcasting studio was consistent. From Monday to Friday last week, he appeared in front of a backdrop of books and Americana for a press briefing over Zoom, talking head interviews on cable news, and roundtables with young voters and first responders; a lamp to his right always turned on, he repeatedly tried to reassure Americans that the country “won’t be defeated” by an “invisible” enemy. He hammered a critique about the president’s slow response to the coronavirus threat. Biden’s increased presence online and on TV over the last two weeks also has answered skepticism his online adversaries have been hurling, even if the answers aren’t always appointment viewing on live TV. “Where Is Joe Biden?” had emerged as a memeified pressure point meant to raise suspicion or criticism over his retreat from the public eye. “Thanks for giving me the time — so they don’t wonder where I am,” Biden said Monday as he ended an interview on MSNBC. "We were just focused on getting him out there as soon as we could get him out there,” Flaherty said Wednesday. “I think if people are saying ‘Where is Joe?’ right now, they’re operating in bad faith. We’re doing TV every day … If you’re asking ‘Where’s Joe?’, you know where to find him now." One problem for the Biden campaign has been the ticker count of confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths — the only story Americans seem to be paying attention to — on cable news networks that supersede any shot he had at making an impact. “I think it is very helpful for people to hear and see him,” Rep. Tim Ryan of Ohio, a former presidential candidate now supporting Biden, told BuzzFeed News. “Not sure it’s breaking through, but it does provide the contrast he wants. Steady, experienced, and empathetic, servant leadership. Which a stark contrast to the president’s ego centered, divisive example.” When Biden gave his first address last week on the coronavirus and laid out his suggestions for the president, none of the major networks carried his speech live, as they instead broadcasted one of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s daily briefings. Last Tuesday, when Biden was set to do an interview with the co-hosts of The View, local networks in New York and Washington, DC cut away to air briefings from Cuomo and Mayor Muriel Bowser. The week was a first for a Biden team that seemed to focus little on digital outreach during the primary. At early points in the campaign, staffers argued that what was happening online was not reflective of what was happening in the real world, though that attitude began to change once Biden began his quick march to likely-nominee status. There were some kinks in the execution. Reporters and voters were left wondering when livestreams would actually start, after delays and schedule changes. Biden started his first live-streamed events looking off camera to ask if they “were ready to go,” Audio cut out during town halls. At the same time, Bernie Sanders’ now-longshot campaign held highly-produced live campaign events recorded in multiple locations which streamed without a hitch, and Trump’s rapid response team jumped on every opportunity to point out Biden’s initial technical difficulties. Biden coughed on camera during a CNN interview and was chastised by Jake Tapper for not coughing into his elbow. Soon after, Trump retweeted a heavily-edited clip of Biden coughing and clearing his throat during live TV hits, declaring “The Democrat’s Best & Finest!” Trump, meanwhile, is everywhere. He is on TV every night, updating the nation on the coronavirus crisis from the White House briefing room podium, while also throwing in digs at the media and Biden and attempting to set a narrative that erases his own early role in downplaying the virus. He leaves it to the experts — Anthony Fauci and Deborah Birx — to deliver the toughest information, as he did this Tuesday, passing to them when asked a question about a projected death toll of at least 100,000 Americans. When he is not at the podium, he is calling into Fox News, sometimes in the morning, sometimes late at night. He is tweeting incessantly to his 75 million Twitter followers, amplified by an army of supporters and surrogates. Trump was an overwhelming presence in the lives of many Americans in normal times; with the coronavirus crisis, he is in their faces all the time. While not a perfect measure, one clean way of visualizing just how much Trump has retaken America’s attention is on Google Trends, where Biden briefly spiked over Trump in early March following his giant Super Tuesday wins and has since dropped and virtually flat-lined in the last ten days (both Trump and Biden are basically nonexistent compared to searches for the term “coronavirus”). Biden’s trying to be everywhere himself, but without the power of a president or governor, his appearances carry less urgency. On a Saturday in late March, the Biden campaign popped into DJ D Nice’s “Club Quarantine” set on Instagram to comment a thumbs up to the 70,000 people who’d tuned in to watch the livestream, before barreling into a week of live streamed events and interviews across CNN, MSNBC, ABC, and an interview posted to YouTube with Jimmy Kimmel. Biden has taken an optimistic position on how his message is being amplified. “Well, the irony is, virtual campaigning, I'll probably reach more people than I would out there shaking hands,” Biden told the co-hosts of The View. The campaign had touted that they’d been able to reach 3.5 million people who had watched his Monday morning remarks at some point. From Saturday, March 21 through Saturday, March 28, Biden’s content racked up more than 20 million views — a figure he shared Sunday on Meet the Press. "There’s two internet versions of Joe Biden that people love. One is empathy — the woman in the elevator at the New York Times,” said Flaherty, referring to a viral video of Biden’s friendly encounter with an elevator operator after a meeting with the newspaper’s editorial board. “And then there’s explainer-in-chief, and this sort of calming presence. The videos that have done best for us have always been in one of those two categories." The “explainer-in-chief” approach is central to a podcast Biden launched this week, titled Here’s The Deal — a nod to one of his frequent sayings. The first installment, set to a melodramatic movie trailer-like score, featured Biden and his longtime adviser Ron Klain, who headed up the Obama administration’s efforts to combat the 2014 Ebola outbreak, interviewing each other. “Well, it’s good to be doing my very first podcast,” Biden tells Klain at one point. “Things are changing an awful lot.” Trump’s campaign is able to rely on an already flush treasure chest — $225 million cash on hand when the campaign and RNC, and their joint committees like Trump Victory, are combined — and a developed digital operation to plow through the next few months. By comparison, Biden’s campaign, after two largely rough and expensive months, entered March with about $12 million on hand, though that was before his Super Tuesday surge and the departures of several candidates who threw their support to him. “The Trump Campaign has a significant advantage because of our early and ongoing investment in data and technological infrastructure,” Ken Farnaso, the campaign’s deputy press secretary, said in a statement to BuzzFeed News. “As part of our efforts to reelect the President this November, we are hosting virtual events, training members of the Trump Neighborhood Teams online, activating the massive volunteer network to make calls on behalf of the President, and continuing our efforts to register voters online.” Last Saturday, he said, Trump supporters made almost 1.5 million calls from their homes. On March 13, as the world was still coming to terms with the coronavirus crisis — Japan was still considering whether to put off the 2020 Olympics, and the Trump Victory committee was informing the nearly 900 people who attended a fundraising brunch at Mar-a-Lago that one of them had tested positive for COVID-19 — the Trump campaign said it was shifting to “virtual and digital campaign tools.” “With our field organization largely built out and over half a million volunteers already engaged, we are in an incredibly strong position to activate an aggressive digital and virtual political operation," RNC chair Ronna McDaniel said at the time. The campaign made the shift to being a “virtual campaign” on March 26, and says it has seen a doubling in web traffic to its various campaign sites since last week. That evening, they hosted the first of what are expected to be several “digital broadcast panels,” which are basically group video chats by Trump campaign staff, beamed from their homes onto the computers and phones of whomever chooses to tune in. That night, it was a Women For Trump event. This week, they hosted one for Latinos For Trump. Lara Trump, a senior campaign aide and the president’s daughter-in-law, hosted the Women For Trump discussion, with campaign spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany and political director Chris Carr. “This is a first for us,” Lara Trump said, opening the chat from what looked like a home office, with McEnany sitting in her home in front of a strategically placed “Keep America Great” sign and hat, and Carr in front of red, white and blue “Trump Pence” placards. “Since we can’t go to you, we thought you could come to us,” she said. She lobbed some questions at her guests — if they had any advice for parents in this time of self-isolation, how the president planned to stimulate the economy. There were digs at House leader Nancy Pelosi, and of Democrats’ handling of the economic stimulus package — nothing anyone who has tuned into Fox or Twitter hadn’t heard before. Then Lara Trump turned to the subject of Biden and asked, “What would this country look like if Joe Biden and the Democrats had been at the helm?” That’s when McEnany froze. Not figuratively, but literally, her frozen head soon morphed into a question mark and the sound for the feed dropped entirely. The campaign that had so loudly criticized Biden for his own technical hiccups had fumbled itself. Digital campaigning isn’t always easy. The next day, Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale said more than 945,000 people had tuned into various platforms to watch the event. But, at least on Periscope, the number did not go above 650. “While nothing can compete with President Trump’s unmatched ability to communicate directly with the American people, these events offer an important supplement to the president’s daily White House Coronavirus Task Force briefings — and the incredible response we’ve gotten from supporters proves it,” Lara Trump wrote in an op-ed published on Fox News on Wednesday. In his interviews and digital events, Biden has consistently strived for political nuance, something that may help in projecting himself as a steady hand, but that also rarely generates headlines. That’s been especially true in how he’s taken on Trump directly. In a CNN interview this Tuesday, Biden was asked if Trump “is responsible for the deaths of Americans” for his response to the pandemic. He pivoted. “President Trump is not responsible for the coronavirus,” he said. Instead, Biden said, he is “responsible for using all of the power at his disposal to be able to deal with this virus,” like using the Defense Production Act to bring more protective supplies to doctors and nurses. “If you’ve noticed what I’ve been doing I have not been criticizing the president but I’ve been pointing out where there’s disagreements on how to proceed,” Biden said on The View last week. During a later MSNBC interview Biden went further in his criticism of Trump and seemed to regret it. “Why doesn’t he just act like a president?,” Biden asked. “That’s a stupid way to say it,” he said after a pause. “Sorry.”

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/ryancbrooks/joe-biden-coronavirus-trump-2020-election

Buzzfeed News

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

Stephanie M. Lee

FTC: Altria’s Juul Investment Violates Antitrust Laws

SAN FRANCISCO — The Federal Trade Commission is suing to undo Altria’s nearly $13 billion investment in the popular e-cigarette maker Juul, alleging that the deal violates antitrust laws. Altria, one of the world’s largest tobacco manufacturers, paid $12.8 billion in December 2018 for a 35% stake of Juul, becoming its largest stakeholder and valuing the San Francisco startup at $38 billion. The FTC’s complaint, filed Wednesday, alleges that the investment illegally eliminated competition between the two companies. Altria used to make its own e-cigarettes, under the brands MarkTen and Green Smoke, until December 2018. As competitors, Altria and Juul tracked each other’s e-cigarette prices and “raced to innovate,” the FTC said in a press release. That race effectively ended by the end of 2018, when Juul had become a household name and the most popular e-cigarette maker in the US. The FTC alleges that “Altria dealt with this competitive threat by agreeing not to compete in return for a substantial ownership interest in Juul.” “Altria and Juul turned from competitors to collaborators by eliminating competition and sharing in Juul’s profits,” Ian Conner, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Competition, said in a statement. As part of the investment, Altria would have been able to appoint representatives to Juul’s board of directors and convert its shares to voting securities. But those moves have been on hold as the FTC has been reviewing the investment, the Wall Street Journal reported in January. A Juul spokesperson declined to comment. Separately, the FTC has been investigating Juul’s and other e-cigarette companies’ marketing practices. Juul has been widely criticized — and sued by regulators across the country — for allegedly advertising its addictive products to youth and helping start the teen vaping crisis. Juul, for its part, says its goal has always been to help adult smokers quit conventional cigarettes. Since Altria put money in the startup, its investment has lost value as Juul has struggled to keep its footing. Late last year, Juul stopped sales of all its non-tobacco flavors in the US while it’s in the process of asking the FDA to allow it to sell its products. It’s also faced a combination of regulatory restrictions and lackluster sales overseas. It laid off 650 employees in the fall and a series of high-profile executives, including cofounder James Monsees, have left over the last two months. Juul’s valuation is now calculated to be $12 billion.

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/stephaniemlee/juul-altria-ftc-antitrust-lawsuit

Buzzfeed News

2020-04-02 00:00:00

2020

4.0

2

Brianna Sacks

A Man Admitted To Trying To Crash A Train Into The USNS Mercy Over Coronavirus Suspicions

The journalists at BuzzFeed News are proud to bring you trustworthy and relevant reporting about the coronavirus. To help keep this news free, become a member and sign up for our newsletter, Outbreak Today. A man was arrested for allegedly intentionally derailing a train at full speed near the USNS Mercy, the hospital ship docked at the Port of Los Angeles, because he was suspicious over its ties to COVID-19 and a possible government take over, according to a federal criminal complaint. Eduardo Moreno is a train engineer who works at the port. The 44-year-old from San Pedro, California, told authorities in two separate interviews that he ran the train off the tracks at high-speed, crashing through barriers, before stopping about 250 yards away from the ship. The USNS Mercy docked at the port last week to relieve some of the strain on hospitals that are stretched thin caring for coronavirus patients. The ship, which has 1,000 beds and can perform surgeries and other critical care, began treating non-COVID-19 patients on Sunday. The operator told FBI agents that “he did it out of the desire to ‘wake people up'" and "thought that the U.S.N.S. Mercy was suspicious and did not believe ‘the ship is what they say it’s for,'” the US Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles said. A California Highway Patrol officer, who saw the crash and took Moreno into custody after he tried to flee, said the train smashed into a steel barrier, chain-link fence, slid through a parking lot, then a gravel-filled lot, and crashed into another fence. When the officer apprehended Moreno, he allegedly made a series of "spontaneous statements," prosecutors said in their statement, including, “You only get this chance once. The whole world is watching. I had to. People don’t know what’s going on here. Now they will.” Video from inside the train's cab shows Moreno inside and holding a lighted flare, prosecutors said. The engineer told authorities that he had not plotted the attack ahead of time and acted alone. No one was injured in the crash, although the train did leak a "substantial amount of oil," officials said. The Justice Department charged Moreno with one count of train wrecking, which carries a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison.

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/briannasacks/man-derailed-train-mercy-ship-los-angeles

Buzzfeed News

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

Dr. Drew Says Addicts & Alcoholics Face Turbulent Time During Shutdowns

Dr. Drew says the coronavirus pandemic is creating dangerous sink or swim conditions for drug addicts and alcoholics. The danger doesn't come from the virus itself, instead, Drew tells us it's the quarantines that have people hooked on booze or substances really going through it right now. He says many are relapsing due to a lack of personal communication and a face-to-face support system they may be used to during normal times. Dr. Drew says that spells trouble for some, especially those just starting out in their journey to sobriety. He worries that the longer this goes on, the longer they're more at risk to do harm to themselves. On the flip side, there's another type of addict who can emerge. He says some alcoholics and addicts actually thrive in situations like these, where their adrenaline is pumping and the stakes are high. It's interesting ... a lot of AA meetings have, in fact, moved to digital platforms -- but Drew says it's really up to the individual in how they manage this separation from people. Funny enough, he also has a take on the fact liquor stores and weed shops are still open. They're considered essential businesses, and whether there's any merit to it or not ... Drew says there's gotta be supplemental help if you're gonna keep an addict's fix within arm's reach.

https://www.tmz.com/2020/04/01/dr-drew-addiction-alcoholics-coronavirus-shutdown-aa-meetings/

TMZ

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

Online Memorial Sites Flooded by People Writing Their Obits, Just in Case

This is taking coronavirus fears to the ultimate extreme -- rather than waiting until it's too late, more and more Americans are writing in-memoriam addresses ... for themselves. As you know, standard funerals aren't happening anymore under "safer-at-home" guidelines -- and online memorial services are now the norm. Keeper, a company that allows people to create memorial pages, tells TMZ ... it's seen a big increase in people using their "Living Memorial" feature. Might sound like a very morbid DIY, but Keeper's president, Mandy Benoualid, tells us their site lets users create a detailed chronicle of their lives -- complete with timelines, milestones, photos, and memories from loved ones. She says the "Living Memorial" feature also lets you designate who'll be your "keeper" when you're gone. Overall, she says their site has seen a 300% increase in traffic. GatheringUS is another online memorial site, and it's also been very busy. CEO Noha Waibsnaider says one of their newest virtual tools is seeing some love -- the video conference memorial/funeral, which is super elaborate, but tech-friendly. Mourners log into the chat, and they're walked through the service by an MC of sorts, who mutes their mics and then tells them when it's their turn to speak. There's even a "reception" afterward, and they break guests up into "tables" -- separate video chats, basically. GatheringUS also has memorial pages people can set up, but it sounds like their digital goodbye parties are seeing more action than online funerals. That's a good thing.

https://www.tmz.com/2020/04/01/online-memorial-site-living-people-write-obituaries-virtual-services-funeral/

TMZ

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

Pinterest Users Wondering How to Clean Bathroom Sinks in Quarantine

Pinterest users stuck at home in coronavirus quarantine have one burning question on their minds ... how in the hell are we supposed to clean our bathroom sinks?!? Seriously ... the good folks over at Pinterest tell us website users are searching for all sorts of things, but there's been a huge spike in searches for sink cleaning tips. Pinterest says searches for "how to clean a bathroom sink" are up a whopping 3,404% during the coronavirus pandemic. Kinda makes sense though ... folks who have relied on housekeepers, finally have to fend for themselves. It's almost like Darwinism. Pinterest tells us they're also seeing spikes in searches for other topics related to self-care and DIY. Check out these search engine doozies: Oh, and we'll leave you with this ... searches for Chrissy Teigen bread recipes have also surged an incredible 3,790%. What would we do without Pinterest?!?

https://www.tmz.com/2020/04/01/pinterest-users-wondering-how-to-clean-bathroom-sinks-coronavirus-quarantine/

TMZ

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson Reportedly In Talks for Coronavirus Charity Match

Forget the Masters ... here's golf's biggest event of the year now -- TIGER WOODS & PEYTON MANNING VS. PHIL MICKELSON AND TOM BRADY!!! The quartet of sports legends are reportedly set to hit a course next month in what would be America's first major sporting event since the coronavirus pandemic. Details surrounding the matchup are a little bit murky at this point -- CNBC reports contracts are still being finalized -- but what is known is the event would benefit COVID-19 relief efforts. Working on it The showdown is tentatively set for May ... and it's believed that the foursome will play with a small film production crew on a fanless course and adhere to social distancing guidelines. CNBC reports the matchup could go down on TNT ... and feature some of its biggest star analysts -- like Charles Barkley -- providing off-site commentary during play. Of course, Phil and Tiger famously battled each other in a 1-on-1 matchup back in November 2018 ... with Mickelson beating Tiger on the 22nd hole to take home a $9 MILLION prize. Could Manning and Brady alter that fate next month?? Well, Peyton is reportedly an 8-handicap, while Tom is reportedly a 9. SPORTS ARE BACK, BABY!!!

https://www.tmz.com/2020/04/01/tiger-woods-phil-mickelson-tom-brady-peyton-manning-golf-showdown-coronavirus/

TMZ

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

Shaquille O'Neal Pressured By PETA to Cut Ties with Jeff Lowe, 'Same As Joe Exotic'

Is Shaquille O'Neal video chat buddies with Jeff Lowe from 'Tiger King?' That's what Lowe wants us to believe ... and now PETA is calling on the NBA legend to cut ties with the Oklahoma zoo owner ASAP claiming he's just as bad as Joe Exotic. If you recall from the Netflix doc, Lowe owns the Greater Wynnewood Animal Park in Oklahoma ... and just a few weeks ago, the zoo posted a screengrab which appears to show a FaceTime call between Shaq and Lowe. "One of the nicest guys in the World," the G.W. Animal Park posted on Facebook on March 21 ... "Shaq facetime’d a few minutes ago to see how we were doing and if we need anything. We love you too buddy." Shocking, considering Shaq just went on his podcast a few days ago and tried to distance himself from the park and former owner, Joe Exotic. In fact, Shaq said he "stopped going" to the zoo when he found out what was really happening behind the scenes. Now, PETA is begging the NBA legend to disavow Jeff Lowe the same way he disavowed Joe Exotic ... firing off a letter to Shaq explaining their position. "It appears that the equally problematic wild animal exhibitor Jeff Lowe is now claiming to have your support, PETA said to Shaq. "Lowe is no different from Joe Exotic when it comes to harming animals." PETA points out Lowe "has a long history of violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act" -- and there's still an active warrant for Lowe in Nevada stemming from Lowe's failed tiger-petting business (which was also mentioned in the Netflix doc). "It's clear that you love tigers, and we hope you will dissociate yourself from people who profit from abusing, breeding, and exploiting them," PETA said to Shaq in the letter, obtained by TMZ Sports. "Will you please make it clear right away that you don't desire to have an ongoing relationship with Lowe? As long as he continues to use your name to support his abusive business, you will be tied to animal suffering." "Instead, please help these tigers. Help us shut down these hellholes, move the animals to reputable sanctuaries, and keep them out of the hands of abusers." We've reached out to Shaq for comment. So far, no word back.

https://www.tmz.com/2020/04/01/shaquille-oneal-jeff-lowe-tiger-king-peta-joe-exotic/

TMZ

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

Antonio Brown Works Out With Lamar Jackson & Hollywood Brown, Future Raven?

He ain't gonna be a Buc ... but could Antonio Brown be heading to the Ravens?! The controversial NFL free agent was spotted working out with Lamar Jackson and is fellow receiver cousin, Hollywood Brown on Wednesday ... just days after he speculated about heading to Baltimore. And by looking at the video of their training sesh ... it could be a dangerous combo. Of course, AB has been looking for a new home after getting cut by the Patriots early last season ... while the NFL currently investigates sexual assault allegations made by his former trainer. Even though he could be facing suspension, there's still tons of talks surrounding where Brown will end up after the dust settles. Although AB has always wanted to reunite with Tom Brady in Tampa Bay, Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians has gone on record saying they're not gonna bring Brown in. When asked about teaming up with Lamar and the Ravens on IG Live a few days ago ... AB said it would be a "scary (sight)" -- so it's VERY interesting to see him work out with Jackson. No word on whether John Harbaugh is interested in bringing Brown in ... but considering he's personally seen him tear up the AFC North for years, don't count it out.

https://www.tmz.com/2020/04/01/antonio-brown-works-out-with-lamar-jackson-hollywood-brown/

TMZ

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

NBA's Marcus Smart Donating Blood Plasma After Beating COVID-19 To Help Sick

Call this the biggest assist of the year so far for Marcus Smart ... the NBA player is donating his blood plasma after beating coronavirus to try to help others recover from the disease as well. Some COVID-19 experts believe by taking the plasma of a person who's beaten the virus and giving it to currently infected people can help them get better. The science, officials say, is the antibodies in the plasma can help sick people develop similar coronavirus fighters quicker as well. The problem? Doctors say finding donors has been tough ... and the NBA, according to ESPN, has actually reached out to its teams to try to get its recovered players to participate. Enter Smart ... whose agent confirmed Tuesday the Boston Celtics star is more than willing to give up his blood plasma for the potential cure. Smart said on Twitter last week he was cleared by the Mass. Dept. Of Health after being diagnosed with the virus. He claimed he never once felt sick. Smart is reportedly one of four players who have made the decision to donate after beating coronavirus already.

https://www.tmz.com/2020/04/01/marcus-smart-blood-donation-covid-19-relief-boston-celtics/

TMZ

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

'Tiger King' Star Carole Baskin Bashes Netflix, Explains Truth About Don

"Tiger King" star Carole Baskin claims Netflix made her out to be a monster and an alleged spouse killer -- and while she still denies that, she is revealing new info about her late husband. Carole bashed the Netflix producers Wednesday for what she characterizes as "lies and innuendos" from people she says are not credible whatsoever. She's especially miffed they suggested she's mixed up in her husband, Don Lewis' mysterious death. In a post on her Big Cat Rescue website, she drops some alleged tea about Don's final months before he disappeared, and what she describes as erratic behavior. Carole heavily implies Don had Alzheimer's disease, and even claims he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. She says he was an avid dumpster diver in his final days, and would even bring random homeless people over to sleep at their home. She also claims he began defecating on their property grounds, adding he was a sex addict. Yeah, she kinda went all scorched earth on him. She also claims Don was no millionaire when they met -- as suggested in "Tiger King." Sounds like he did have a vast portfolio when he disappeared though. In her post, Carole also attempts to discredit almost everyone who spoke about her in the documentary -- and addresses concerns viewers had with how she and her current husband, Howard, run their business. There's a bottom line though, and it's essentially this ... she says she did everything she could to help find Don when he disappeared, and even questions "Tiger King" director Eric Goode's intentions in allegedly attempting to vilify her. She says if people want the truth and even more context than what she's offering, they can peep it here.

https://www.tmz.com/2020/04/01/tiger-king-star-carole-baskin-bashes-netflix-explains-truth-don-lewis/

TMZ

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

Sean Payton Moving Draft War Room To Local Brewery After COVID-19 Closures

Well, we've never seen beer and football together quite like this before ... Sean Payton says since the NFL has closed down his team's facilities amid the coronavirus pandemic ... he's moving the Saints' draft war room to a local New Orleans brewery. For real. The coach made the announcement Wednesday ... saying the team will set up its whole draft headquarters at Dixie Brewing Company (which is also owned by Saints honcho Gayle Benson) in New Orleans East later this month. It was a historic night tonight as Mrs. Benson kicked off the return of @dixiebrewco to New Orleans!The new brewery in New Orleans East will open to the public on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/CSgGXYY6Yn Payton -- who's just now getting over his battle with coronavirus -- says his team will take every precaution necessary inside the brewery to make sure they're not violating social distancing rules. Sean says only around six or seven people -- including himself and GM Mickey Loomis -- will actually be on-site ... while the rest of his staff will be there via monitors in the room. "This facility is fantastic," Payton said ... "We're certainly distanced away from each other. There's plenty of space. And, then the monitors have all the scouts and everyone else, so the total people in the meeting might be 20." Payton added, each day those who enter the brewery will have their temperatures taken as an extra precaution to keep his employees safe. The NFL Draft is slated to kick off on April 23. Payton's Saints currently hold pick No. 24 in the first round.

https://www.tmz.com/2020/04/01/sean-payton-saints-brewery-nfl-draft-coronavirus/

TMZ

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

Guess Who This Cute Kid Turned Into!

Before this celebrity spawn was showing off her ultimate fashion sense and starring in movie franchises, she was just another brown-eyed girl growing up in Venice, Los Angeles. Take a closer look ... this darling daughter of two A-list stars made a name for herself when she appeared as a superhero heartthrob in "X-Men: First Class." The multitalented woman has also risen to fame from her success in music and modeling. While being stuck at home, you can binge her new television show -- which is a remake of a film starring her mom in 2000. You'd be mad to not figure out who this little lady is! Can you guess who she is?

https://www.tmz.com/2020/04/01/guess-who-this-cute-kid-turned-into/

TMZ

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

NFL's Jon Weeks Sends Whataburger To 1st Responders, 100s Of Burgers & Tenders!

Houston Texans long snapper Jon Weeks wanted to thank 1st responders for all their hard work during the COVID-19 pandemic ... so he sent them free lunch -- FROM WHATABURGER!! The NFL player, along with his adorable daughter, sent burgers, chicken tenders and pies to the Houston Emergency Response Center and several fire departments Tuesday ... and accompanied the food with an awesome thank you video. Houston Texans Long Snapper Jon Weeks donated Whataburger lunches to Houston Emergency Center employees today and several Houston Fire Stations as well! Thanks for your support! @HoustonTexans @Whataburger pic.twitter.com/VMlGRGjeMA "Thank you for everything that you guys are doing," said Weeks, who's been playing for the Texans since 2010. "Thank you for being there on the front lines making the ultimate sacrifice to protect us to make sure that we're safe." Weeks added, "We hope that you guys can enjoy lunch on the Weeks family today." In total, we're told Weeks copped 125 burgers, 125 chicken tenders, 75 cherry and apple pies and 80 cookies from Whataburger for the hard-working people ... and they couldn't have been happier about the awesome gesture. "The firefighters were very thankful," Houston Fire Department spokesperson Sheldra Brigham told TMZ Sports. "Not just for the Whataburger (which we love in Texas!) but the fact that Jon took the time to record a special message made the gesture even more special." Reportedly, eight Houston firefighters have tested positive for COVID-19 recently, with many still awaiting testing results in quarantine. But Brigham tells us Weeks' action brought the crew some much-needed joy, saying, "Lunch and a special message from Jon definitely gave us all something to smile about." A spokesperson for the emergency center added, "The staff is very grateful that they were even thought of." Props for the cool move!

https://www.tmz.com/2020/04/01/jon-weeks-houston-texans-lunch-whataburger-first-responders-fire/

TMZ

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

U.S. Prisoners Will Be on 14-Day Quarantine in Wake of Coronavirus

Call it a lockdown within the lockdown -- U.S. prisoners will be kept inside their assigned cells for the next 14 days in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The Federal Bureau of Prisons announced Tuesday night its new guideline will go into effect beginning Wednesday ... calling for all inmates in every prison across the nation to be secured in their assigned cells/quarters to decrease the spread of COVID-19. This is BOP's Phase 5 plan as it desperately tries to combat the outbreak in prisons across America. BOP also says -- to the extent practicable -- inmates will have access to programs and services offered under normal operating procedures, such as mental health treatment and education. After 14 days, if BOP deems it necessary ... it can choose to extend the lockdown. BOP will also work with U.S. Marshals to "significantly decrease incoming movement" to its prisons. The new directive comes on the heels of the chief doctor at NYC's biggest jail, Rikers Island, telling the Washington Post a "public health disaster [is] unfolding before our eyes" ... and just one day after California announced it's releasing 3,500 inmates early as officials fear overcrowding could spark an outbreak of the deadly disease.

https://www.tmz.com/2020/04/01/federal-prisons-implement-14-day-quarantine-coronavirus/

TMZ

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

'Tiger King' Odds Suggest Kevin Bacon Likeliest to Play Joe in Movie

Even online gamblers are sinking their claws into the 'Tiger King' -- and bookies have a strong hunch about who should don the mullet and leg brace in a feature film. The oddsmakers at SportsBetting.ag have a list of A-listers they want folks to place bets on to play Joe Exotic ... who's become a worldwide phenomenon with the Netflix documentary. Their first choice won't surprise you much, but the underdog might. The odds-on favorite is ... Kevin Bacon! If you place $100 on him, you'd only get $150 if he landed the role. Next is Ed Norton, who'd earn you $250 on a $100 bet. After that, it's Billy Bob Thornton and David Spade, who'd pay out $300 and $400, respectively, if they were cast. As for your long shot ... that's Mr. Ben Stiller. Btw, there’s a catch ... the film’s gotta be released by 2021 or sooner. Of course, the gambling world offers equal opportunity ... to lose your money ... so folks are also weighing in on who plays Joe's archnemesis, Carole Baskin. The favorite is Wendi McLendon-Covey (Deputy Johnson from 'Reno 911!') at an even split of +100 -- so you'd break even on a $100 bet. Down the line in order from most to least likely to land the part -- Allison Janney at +300, Kristen Wiig at +300, Jennifer Coolidge at +500 and finally, Laura Dern at +600. There's other interesting 'Tiger King' categories over at MyBookie -- stuff like whether Joe will get a presidential pardon and will Carole be found guilty of murdering her husband. Dark for sure, but hey ... anything for a buck!

https://www.tmz.com/2020/04/01/tiger-king-betting-odds-kevin-bacon-cast-movie-joe-exotic/

TMZ

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

Skate Legend Jeff Grosso Dies, Tony Hawk Pays Tribute

7:11 AM PT -- Law enforcement tells TMZ Sports ... Grosso passed away Tuesday at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach, California. We're told there is no obvious cause of death at the moment. An autopsy is expected to be performed. Skateboarding legend Jeff Grosso -- one of the biggest skate stars of the '80s -- has died. He was only 51. Thrasher Magazine's Michael Burnett confirmed the news ... saying on Tuesday, "Today we have the terrible task of saying a heartbreaking goodbye to beloved verticalist, commentator and friend of the mag, Jeff Grosso." The details surrounding Grosso's death are unclear. We're working on it. He is survived by his 8-year-old son Oliver, who Burnett mentions in his tribute to Jeff. "Jeff went from number-one amateur to '80s superstar to cautionary tale and back again. His latest role as lovable curmudgeon, host of his own history-packed web series and keeper of skateboarding’s righteousness, unafraid to offend or annoy in his quest to educate, was by far his greatest – second only to being Oliver’s dad." The "cautionary tale" is a reference to Jeff's struggles with substance abuse. He talked openly about issues with pain pills and heroin. In fact, Jeff OD'd 3 times before 2017. "He will be sorely, sorely missed. Our hearts go out to his family and many friends. RIP," Burnett said. Jeff shot to skate stardom in the '80s and went on to host "Vans' Love Letters to Skateboarding." Jeff was also BELOVED by skate legends like Tony Hawk -- who paid tribute to Grosso. "Jeff was a true skateboarder at his core, and a great wealth of entertainment, insight and valuable philosophy to a younger generation. I was lucky enough to skate with him over the last four decades and occasionally featured on his Vans’ Love Letters series.” Hawk continued ... "One of the last times we spoke, we talked about how ridiculous it is that we still get to do this for a living and that anyone even cares what we do or think in terms of skateboarding at our age." "I believe Jeff is a big reason that anyone truly cares, and skateboarding was lucky to have him as an ambassador and gatekeeper to its history. He was also a great father, which is obvious in his last social media post. Thank you Jeff, words cannot describe how much we will miss you." Originally Published -- 6:56 AM PT

https://www.tmz.com/2020/04/01/jeff-grosso-dead-dies-skateboarder-tony-hawk/

TMZ

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

Dr. Will Kirby Rips Colleagues for Hoarding Much-Needed Medical Supplies

Dr. Will Kirby wants his fellow medical pros to quit hoarding crucial supplies, and make the sacrifices needed to fight the coronavirus pandemic. The celebrity dermatologist joined us Wednesday on "TMZ Live" and sounded the alarm -- hospitals and first responders are in desperate need of face shields, masks and gloves ... items generally known as PPE, personal protective equipment. Dr. Kirby -- who is a lead Doc at LaserAway -- doesn't mince words, saying any Bev Hills, Hollywood or L.A. cosmetic surgeon refusing to donate their stockpile of PPE is straight-up selfish and cowardly. He suspects they've been slow to donate because they're hoping to open their doors again in a few weeks. Watch the clip ... he acknowledges the economic risk, but says it's time to band together and sacrifice. The good doc is putting his PPE where his mouth is ... he's already donated $50,000 worth of PPE to 17 emergency rooms in New York and California. No donation is too small ... and Dr. Kirby says there's a way patients can put the pressure on their surgeons to step up to the plate and save lives.

https://www.tmz.com/2020/04/01/dr-will-kirby-donate-ppe-hospitals-coronavirus-masks-gloves-face-shields-rips-surgeons-cowards-hoarding/

TMZ

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

Tampa Megachurch Pastor Might Get Off Scot-Free, FL Deems Church 'Essential'

2:50 PM PT -- Governor Ron DeSantis might have just helped out the megachurch pastor who got busted for holding a massive service this weekend, 'cause he just issued clear, statewide guidelines on what is and isn't essential businesses amid their just-announced quarantine order ... and turns out, gathering in places of worship is one of them. How 'bout that? Yes ... in a crazy turn of events, on Wednesday DeSantis issued mandatory stay-at-home guidelines that are no longer suggested, but required. In the official public document outlining what's what and what sort of public activities are permitted, the Gov. made sure to get churches and the like in there right at the top. Going out to care for a loved one is 4th. It's wild, 'cause Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne just got picked up by cops in Tampa this week for allegedly violating public health rules. Now, it looks like the state's top dog is saying otherwise, which begs the question ... what's the D.A. gonna do there? You would think the charges would be dropped by default, but it might be more complicated than that. It'll also be interesting to see if an apology of some sort will be issued to him for jumping the gun. As for allowing massive public gatherings like church services and deeming them essential ... Florida, man. That's all we can say 😑 The Florida pastor who got hauled in by cops for hosting a megachurch service despite quarantine and stay-at-home orders is doubling down ... insisting he did NOTHING wrong. The Tampa-area minister is Rodney Howard-Browne, and he took to his own podcast/telecast shortly after being released Monday night to explain why he did what he did -- namely, put hundreds of people's lives at risk by hosting the service. RHB has a lot to say, but the gist is that he was simply exercising his First Amendment right -- i.e., freedom of religion and separation of church and state. His logic is bizarre. Watch. There's more though ... Rodney goes IN on the media, sounding very Trump-like by suggesting a lot of outlets are hyping the threat of coronavirus and fear-mongering to get everyone scared and panicked. BTW ... more than 800 people in the U.S. died Tuesday. One interesting note ... it sounds like Rodney here thinks the charges he was brought in on -- which he incorrectly calls First Amendment violations -- will be resolved shortly. He says he's willing to do interviews, but only once his lawyers and theirs (the county/state's) have a chat and put this matter to bed. He also talks TMZ a bit. 👀 One last thing ... the guy shows ZERO remorse for his actions, insisting he had no choice. Wrong again, Rod -- but go ahead and tell us why you think that is. We're listening ... Originally Published -- 12:30 AM PT

https://www.tmz.com/2020/04/01/rodney-howard-browne-tampa-florida-megachurch-pastor-arrest-defiant/

TMZ

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

George Foreman Counseled Wilder After Fury Fight, Just Like 'Rumble In The Jungle'

George Foreman counseled Deontay Wilder after his crushing loss to Tyson Fury ... telling TMZ Sports he's the only man who understands what the Bronze Bomber's feeling -- 'cause Muhammad Ali humbled him the same way during "The Rumble in the Jungle." We were talking to the 71-year-old boxing legend when he revealed he recently talked to Wilder following his devastating February 22 TKO loss at the hands of the Gypsy King. "I had a nice conversation with Wilder, nice conversation with him." Why, you ask? Well, Foreman says he knows EXACTLY how Deontay feels ... 'cause like with Fury, Ali handed George his 1st L and took his belt in Zaire in 1974 -- the "Rumble in the Jungle" -- one of the most famous sporting events in the history of the world. "We talked because I was in a position where I lost unexpectedly with the title in Africa. Only I know what he's going through," Foreman tells us. The Hall of Famer continued, saying ... "He's gonna have to live with [the Fury loss] but I can show him how to live with that and come back better. We talked a lot on those lines." FYI -- Foreman was 40-0 when he lost to Ali. DW was 42-0-1 when he lost to Fury. Both boxers were champs. Shortly after the loss, Wilder exercised a rematch clause in his contract ... setting the fighters up for a trilogy fight later this year. Despite clearly wanting revenge, many experts say taking the fight is a terrible career move for Deontay -- as they don't think he can beat the slick-moving 6'9", 273-lb. heavyweight. Straight nonsense in Foreman's mind, 'cause he says Wilder can 100% beat Fury ... and it'll actually be pretty simple. "Not only beat him, [Wilder] can do it easily," George says, adding ... "Give him another chance. He'll show you." Foreman's living proof a comeback's possible (although he never got a shot at running it back with Ali) ... he became heavyweight champ again 20 years later. With Big George's help, Deontay will attempt to do the same ... but he ain't trying to wait 2 decades.

https://www.tmz.com/2020/04/01/george-foreman-deontay-wilder-tyson-fury-muhammad-ali-rumble-jungle-boxing-fight/

TMZ

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

Cristiano Ronaldo Posts Sexy Quarantine Thirst Trap Pic

Just because you're stuck at home doesn't mean you shouldn't enjoy celebrity eye candy! Thankfully, Cristiano Ronaldo is the hero we all need ... posting a ripped, shirtless quarantine pic while he's essentially banned from leaving the house. "Breathe in, breathe out. Stay active," Ronaldo posted on IG ... adding, "StayHomeSaveLives." To his credit, Ronaldo has been using his platforms to encourage people to be SAFE during the COVID-19 pandemic ... posting numerous times on social media to urge his fans to stay home. Just 24 hours ago, Ronaldo said, "In this difficult moment for the whole world, let’s be thankful for the things that matter - our health, our family, our loved ones." "Stay home and let’s help all the health workers out there fighting to save lives." He's right. He's also ripped. So, whether you like your CR7 informative or just topless and quiet ... Ronaldo's here for you.

https://www.tmz.com/2020/04/01/cristiano-ronaldo-quarantine-topless-coronavirus/

TMZ

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

NFL Agent Buddy Baker Loses Both Parents To COVID-19, 'Died 6 Minutes Apart'

NFL agent Buddy Baker -- who's repped stars like Doug Baldwin and Jack Doyle -- lost both his parents to COVID-19 on Sunday ... and now, he's begging the public to help stop others from suffering the same fate. Baker posted an emotional video Tuesday explaining the tragic news ... saying both his mom and dad were in "perfect health" just a few weeks ago. Sadly, he says, both contracted coronavirus ... and the two -- who were married for 51 years -- died from complications of the disease just six minutes apart on Sunday. Now, Baker is pleading with others to practice social distancing, self-isolation and quarantining in order to help stop the spread of the disease to others. "We live in a world of, 'It can’t happen to me, it can’t happen to us, it can’t happen to my family,'" Baker said. "Well, it happened to us." He added, "I’d like to take this time to make people start thinking about making a change." Several of Baker's clients backed the agent on social media Tuesday, with Redskins star Terry McLaurin retweeting Baker's message with a prayer emoji. Baldwin, meanwhile, added, "My agent and friend lost both of his parents to Covid-19 two days ago. He has an important message for all of us."

https://www.tmz.com/2020/04/01/nfl-agent-buddy-baker-coronavirus-parents-doug-baldwin/

TMZ

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

O.J. Simpson Convinced Carole Baskin Killed Her Husband, 'Tiger Sashimi'

O.J. Simpson -- who most people believe got away with murder -- is publicly accusing Carole Baskin of GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER! WHAT. IS. HAPPENING!?!?! Juice says he finally got around to watching "Tiger King" -- and one thing is clear to him ... he's convinced Carole Baskin fed Don Lewis to her animals. "There's not a shred of doubt in my mind that that lady's husband is tiger sashimi right now," O.J. said ... "I'm just saying." Of course, Carole has ADAMANTLY DENIED having any involvement in Don's disappearance -- but O.J. ain't buy-in' what she's sellin' based on what he saw in the Netflix documentary. There's more ... Simpson -- who's interestingly wearing gloves that fit -- plays the race card. "White people!! What's with you and wild animals?! Leave them animals alone!" Simpson made the video just after a round of golf at an open course in Nevada, where he's obviously still on the hunt for the real killer.

https://www.tmz.com/2020/04/01/oj-simpson-tiger-king-convinced-carole-baskin-killed-husband-tiger-sashimi/

TMZ

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

Santa Monica Farmers Market Crowded with Shoppers

Southern California still doesn't quite get the need to social distance from one another, because a popular farmers market in Santa Monica was teeming with shoppers who were awfully close together. These pics were snapped Wednesday AM, as folks mostly on the westside of L.A. scramble for fresh groceries. The person who took the photos tells TMZ ... he was not allowed in because it's members-only, but he saw lots of shoppers very close together. There have been other problems in the L.A.-area. As we reported, Katherine Schwarzenegger got the Brentwood Farmers Market shut down by Mayor Garcetti -- at least temporarily -- after big crowds gathered over the weekend and clearly were not practicing social distancing. Ditto the beaches in L.A. County. During the first week of the self-quarantine, the beaches were crammed with people. They have been shut down. Hiking trails have also been closed because so many people were trying to get exercise at the same time. The big complication is going to come when the people who contracted the virus and are healthy again start going out in public. At some point, it's gonna be hard to figure out who to stay away from.

https://www.tmz.com/2020/04/01/farmers-market-on-3rd-street-promenade/

TMZ

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

Netflix 'Pandemic' Doctor Says He Has Potential Coronavirus Cure

One of the doctors featured on the show, "Pandemic," says he may have found a cure for the coronavirus, and the military is now jumping into action to conduct tests. Dr. Jacob Glanville, who heads up Distributed Bio, explained his antibody therapy. It's a shot that binds, neutralizes and blocks the virus from infecting human cells. But, there's more ... Dr. Glanville says people who already have the virus could benefit in just 20 minutes, if it actually works. Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media. The doc says the antibodies he used were actually developed back in 2002 to stop the spread of SARS. He says his team has evolved the antibodies in the lab and claims "they very vigorously block and stop [COVID19]." According to Dr. Glanville, the antibodies are now being sent to the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases. Apparently the military will initially do lab tests. No immediate plans to test on humans, but you gotta think ... if it shows promise the trials will be accelerated.

https://www.tmz.com/2020/04/01/netflix-pandemic-doctor-jacob-glanville-covid-19-cure-coronavirus/

TMZ

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

Royal Caribbean Cruise Won't Give Nurses Refunds for Convention

The no-refunds rage continues -- this time it's folks on the frontlines helping us fight coronavirus who are getting screwed, and it's all because a cruise line won't budge. TMZ has learned ... Royal Caribbean Cruises is NOT refunding a bunch of nurses who were supposed to board one of its behemoth boats this year for a networking convention called NURSECON at Sea, which was canceled as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. It sucks, 'cause it's left a lot of cash-strapped RNs pissed off and wanting their money back. They're getting a rain check for another event down the line, but that's not cutting it with some of the heroes who want their money back, and STAT. According to a letter NURSECON brass sent to ticket holders for the conference, it's spelled out pretty clearly ... anybody who was going to NURSECON 2020 (which was at first postponed, later canceled) will get to join any NURSECON voyage in the future through 2023. They'll also get cruise ship spending credit -- up to $100 worth. And, if nurses who were going ended up shelling out cash for extra vacay packages -- excursions, drink and meal plans, etc. -- Royal Caribbean WILL refund them for that -- but not for the big-ticket item ... the cost of the cruise. That's about it ... no mention of a refund in full for the trip itself this year. It wasn't NURSECON's decision, however, as sources familiar with the negotiations between that company and Royal Caribbean tell us, it's actually RC Cruises honchos who wouldn't give the cash back. So, if there's someone to be mad at, it's the cruise line. For the record, a rep for NURSECON doesn't see any blame to go around for anybody involved, insisting the rescheduled cruises and cruise credit was the best option for all parties, insisting that most of their patrons (the nurses) are actually pleased with the deal. That's not how some of the nurses we spoke with directly felt. We're told the no-refund policy is a slap in the face -- and a promise for a future sail isn't making up for it either. Fact is ... nurses, too, are having a hard time to make ends meet ... and every penny counts right now. They also deserve every break they can get these days, frankly. So, yeah ... they would like their money back, 'cause they didn't cancel ... the bigwigs did.

https://www.tmz.com/2020/04/01/royal-caribbean-cruise-nursecon-no-refunds-credit/

TMZ

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

Joshua Tree National Park Closes After COVID-19 Triggers Mass Visits

Joshua Tree is finally joining a long list of parks closing its trails to hikers and bikers ... just days after the area was besieged by quarantine-fleeing Angelenos. The National Parks Service announced effective immediately the popular park in the Coachella Valley area is closed to ALL visitors until further notice. The park, of course, is completely shutting down in an effort to help slow the spread of COVID-19. As we first reported ... Joshua Tree National Park was flooded with TONS of out-of-towners a little over a week ago, much to the chagrin of local neighbors. The park initially closed its visitor's center on March 18 and then closed its campgrounds on March 21. But bored Angelenos couldn't keep their asses home anyway despite a "shelter at home" order by Gov. Gavin Newsom, thus forcing the National Parks Service's hand. The closure comes a day after coronavirus cases in San Bernardino County hit 125, with four deaths. One more time for the people in the back ... STAY HOME!!!

https://www.tmz.com/2020/04/01/joshua-tree-national-park-completely-closed-coronavirus/

TMZ

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

18-Wheeler Hauling Toilet Paper Crashes in Texas, Spilling TP

An 18-wheeler hauling toilet paper across the country crashed and went up in flames on a Texas interstate ... and reams of priceless rolls ended up as roadkill. The crazy scene unfolded on Interstate 20 early Wednesday morning, when the driver of the tractor-trailer lost control of the rig ... flipping the truck on its side and spilling the precious cargo. The trailer loaded with commercial TP was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived. The crash created a huge traffic snarl during rush hour -- people are still apparently out on the roads in Dallas -- as crews worked to clear the smoldering wreckage. FYI ... Texas does not have a mandatory stay-at-home order. The good news ... both the driver and his pooch were not hurt.

https://www.tmz.com/2020/04/01/truck-hauling-toilet-paper-crashes-texas-flames-fire-tp-big-rig-18-wheeler-tractor-trailer-wreck/

TMZ

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

Pres. Trump Praises Dr. Fauci's Basketball Skills, Too Short For NBA, Though!

Everybody loves him as the expert giving Americans a glimmer of hope in the coronavirus pandemic ... but did you know White House advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci was a basketball superstar!? He sure was!! ... and President Trump gave the guy a major shoutout in the W.H. press briefing on Wednesday ... praising the dude for being a total baller on the court back in the day. Of course, the entire country has fallen in love with Dr. Fauci as he's become the voice of wisdom during this scary time ... and his leadership skills date back to 1958!! Dr. Fauci. Point Guard. Regis High School. 1958. NYC. pic.twitter.com/9lyJxz7ocg Trump brought up Fauci's high school playing days at Regis HS in New York ... saying he inspired his team to win when they were major underdogs. "He was a great basketball player. Did anybody know that?" Trump said. "He was little on the short side for the NBA but he was talented. He won a game, I read the story, he won a game that was un-winnable against a great team." "That was a couple of years ago. The head never changed. The attitude never changed." Very true ... now Dr. Fauci is the team captain for America's fight against the coronavirus ... and he's still kicking ass.

https://www.tmz.com/2020/04/01/president-trump-dr-fauci-basketball-skills/

TMZ

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

Joe Exotic's Ex-Producer Claims Joe Shot Horse, Fed It to Tigers

Joe Exotic's actually way more disturbing than the 'Tiger King' documentary makes him out to be, at least according to the guy who lived at the zoo for a year and helped make Joe a star. Producer Rick Kirkham joined us Wednesday on "TMZ Live" and said the wildly-popular Netflix series is frighteningly accurate -- but still only scratches the surface of Joe's crazy lifestyle. Check out the video ... Rick recalled the time "a poor old woman drove in with a horse trailer" asking Joe to take over caring for the horse on the grounds of his zoo in Oklahoma. He claims Joe told her he'd offer the horse lots of green pasture -- but as soon as she left, he instead did something horrifying. If you've seen the documentary, you'll recall Rick produced Joe's online reality series and even gave him the nickname Tiger King. He says Joe even wanted him to record the horse incident. As fans know, almost all of Rick's footage burned up in a mysterious fire at the zoo. Rick also has some strong feelings about Carole Baskin ... and the allegations she was involved in her husband's unsolved murder. Safe to say, after everything he saw firsthand, Rick's no fan of Joe or Carole.

https://www.tmz.com/2020/04/01/tiger-king-producer-rick-kirkham-joe-exotic-shot-horse-fed-tigers/

TMZ

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

Cindy Crawford, Rande Gerber Let Homebuyer Out of Contract Due to Coronavirus

Rande Gerber and Cindy Crawford have just given up a sweet deal in order to help out a couple that was buying their home ... a couple that desperately wanted to cancel the deal and get their money back ... TMZ has learned. Rande and Cindy were selling one of the homes they own in Malibu -- not the one they live in, but a nearby property they've had for years. They made a deal with a couple from Europe for $6.5 million ... a really good price. Thing is ... with the pandemic and travel restrictions to and from Europe, the couple reached out to Rande and Cindy and asked if they could cancel. We're told the famous couple told the buyers they were all in this together, so they canceled the deal and returned the deposit. It's becoming a big bone of contention surrounding the pandemic ... when can someone cancel a contract due to the virus? This is not an Act of God -- that's limited to natural disasters. If anything applies, it's called force majeure -- an unforeseeable circumstance that prevents someone from fulfilling a contract. For example, it frees people from their contracts if there are extraordinary events beyond the control of the parties, like war, strikes, riots and the plague. There are a number of businesses that are not allowing people to exercise the force majeure clause to get out of contracts -- airlines, cruise ships, apartments ... people are having trouble. Celebrity chef Thomas Keller from French Laundry fame is suing his insurance company to get a declaration from a judge that insurance companies must pay for the losses these businesses are suffering under the force majeure clause ... some insurance companies have resisted, arguing the reason things have tanked is because the government decided on a shutdown, and that was voluntary. Obviously, that misses the point that this is life or death. Plus, the plague has been covered by force majeure in the past, and there's really no difference between that and a deadly virus. As for Rande and Cindy, they are really doing their part in their hometown. Rande's keeping his Malibu restaurant, Cafe Habana, open for takeout and his employees are getting paid. Going beyond what's legally required ... that's called chipping in and doing the right thing.

https://www.tmz.com/2020/04/01/cindy-crawford-rande-gerber-let-homebuyer-out-of-contract-coronavirus/

TMZ

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

Bill Belichick Throws On Tight Jeans for COVID-19 Pep Talk, 'Shelter In Place'

Like millions of Americans, Bill Belichick is working from home today. Unlike millions of Americans ... HE'S NOT WEARING SWEATPANTS!! Instead, the Patriots head coach squeezed into his best pair of tight jeans, set up a cam in his office and just gave a signature Belichick pep talk to America about how to crush the coronavirus! "Hello, this is Bill Belichick," ... (like we didn't already know). "I want to reach out to you in these uncertain and unprecedented times to let you know that I, and the New England Patriots, are behind you. We are all in this together." Belichick shouts out all of the heroes on the front lines -- "medical professionals, doctors, nurses, medical workers and others" -- and praises them for "doing their job." You know Bill ... the "Do Your Job" thing has become his battle cry over the years. "We are facing a difficult opponent. It will take teamwork, discipline and commitment to do the right things all the time. That includes staying at home." "I encourage everyone to shelter in place for as long as necessary as we fight this virus together." BONUS -- WANNA KNOW WHAT'S ON BILL'S BOOKSHELF?! We zoomed way the hell in and spotted a few notable hardcovers -- "Roots" by Alex Haley -- "Medal of Honor" by Peter Collier -- "These United States" by Glenda Elizabeth Gilmore -- "The Best and the Brightest" by David Halberstam It also looks like he's got a Bon Jovi book in there! One thing we didn't see ... a copy of Tom Brady's book. Maybe he just ran out of room?

https://www.tmz.com/2020/04/01/bill-belichick-breaks-silence-tom-brady-split-to-talk-coronavirus-pandemic/

TMZ

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez Squeeze in Gym Workout Before FL Lockdown

Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez just beat the buzzer ... squeezing in one final gym workout before Florida goes on lockdown, and using their pull to make it happen. The engaged duo slipped out of a gym Wednesday afternoon in Miami after getting what we imagine to be some very exclusive access. Florida had already ordered most gyms closed -- in fact, the door to this gym even said it was closed. There was an exception for gyms with a capacity of 10 or less -- so, J Lo and A-Rod likely had a private training session -- but even that has to end Thursday. Governor Ron DeSantis announced a statewide shelter in place order just a few hours after Alex and Jen wrapped up at the gym. It goes into effect Thursday at midnight. They did play it safe on the way out ... with their security guards wearing masks and wiping down door handles and other surfaces they might touch. While some J Lo fans might argue her booty is essential business ... we don't think that would fly with the Governor's Office. Then again, he did leave beaches wide open for spring break amid the pandemic.

https://www.tmz.com/2020/04/01/jennifer-lopez-alex-rodriguez-workout-gym-miami-closed-florida-safer-at-home-coronavirus/

TMZ

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

Tim Tebow Bench Presses 140-Pound Dumbbells In Insane Quarantine Workout

If you needed further proof that Tim Tebow is strong as hell ... here's the NY Mets farmhand slinging around 140-pound dumbbells in a quarantine workout Wednesday -- FOR REPS!!! The former Heisman Trophy winner posted the vid as an inspiration for those looking for some in-home gym ideas during isolation ... but it turned into a MASSIVE flex for the ex-NFL QB. Check out the vid ... Tebow grabbed some of the biggest dumbbells we've EVER seen -- and pressed them SIX TIMES. Later, the dude picked up the 115s for a little incline bench ... and he peppered in some heavy-ass back exercises too. Oh, and get this ... he did it all for FOUR sets!!! Tebow said with the MLB on suspension ... he's looking to continue to go heavier with his lifts -- and maybe even gain some MORE power and strength during the downtime. Begs the question ... do they even make dumbbells that go over 140 pounds for him to move onto?!?!

https://www.tmz.com/2020/04/01/tim-tebow-workout-140-pound-dumbell-bench-press-mlb/

TMZ

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

'Tiger King' Lawyer Eager to Help in Don Lewis Cold Case Investigation

The case of 'Tiger King' star Carole Baskin's dead husband has fresh eyes on it now, which is welcome news to his lawyer ... who says he's eager to help authorities uncover the truth. Joe Fritz was the attorney for Don Lewis, Carole's deceased husband ... who was last seen in August 1997. Joe tells TMZ ... he's ecstatic the Hillsborough County Sheriff in Florida is looking into Don's disappearance ... on the heels of the immensely popular Netflix docuseries. He says the more attention the case gets, the better. Fritz wasn't just Don's lawyer before he went missing, he was his friend, and says there's much more to the story -- and he wants to share everything he knows with cops. So far, he says they haven't contacted him, but if they do, "I would bring them in my home in a heartbeat and offer them a beer." As we reported ... the Sheriff is hoping to capitalize on the Netflix series about tiger breeders and Baskin, by asking the public for leads in her former husband's case. For those who haven't seen it ... Lewis was declared dead 5 years after he disappeared, and folks like Joe Exotic believe Baskin killed him. She's denied any wrongdoing. Fritz tells us he couldn't believe it when he saw the case was getting reopened, but he thanks social media and the 'Tiger King' buzz for making it happen. He adds that he's not looking for closure. Joe says it's no secret what happened to Don -- claiming he's heard the true story of what went down and accepts it -- but he wants the truth to prevail and justice to be served for his friend. As for the docuseries ... Joe says it did a pretty good job telling the story of the big cat people, but he thinks it could have spent more time focusing on Don’s disappearance and debunking Baskin's Costa Rica story. He says there's a lot more about Don's multi-million-dollar life insurance policy too ... but he hopes it's all revealed in the new investigation.

https://www.tmz.com/2020/04/01/tiger-king-don-lewis-lawyer-cold-case-carole-baskin-dead-husband/

TMZ

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

Prince Charles is 'On the Other Side' of Coronavirus Illness

Prince Charles says his health is on the upswing as he battles the coronavirus -- and he's feeling well enough to give the UK his version of "keep calm and carry on." The heir to the throne made a video address to his royal subjects, saying ... "Having recently gone through the process of contracting this coronavirus, luckily with relatively mild symptoms, I now find myself on the other side of the illness but still in no less a state of social distance and general isolation." As we reported ... Prince Charles tested positive for COVID-19 last week. His wife, Camilla, tested negative. She, like Charles, is in the high-risk group. Camilla is 72. The Prince of Wales is now reportedly out of self-isolation after 7 days in Scotland at the royal Balmoral estate. Seven days is the mandate by the UK's National Health Service. In the U.S., the standard quarantine period is 14 days. Over 1,400 people have died from the virus in the UK and Prince Charles had a message for the families of the victims ... "My wife and I are thinking particularly of all those who have lost their loved ones in such very difficult and abnormal circumstances." He added, "Let us try and live with hope and with faith in ourselves and each other, look forward to better times to come." Translation: Keep calm and carry on. Churchill would be proud.

https://www.tmz.com/2020/04/01/prince-charles-health-update-coronavirus-illness-on-the-other-side/

TMZ

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

Dr. Anthony Fauci Gets Beefed-Up Security After Receiving Threats

Dr. Anthony Fauci is getting a beefed-up security detail ... because our nation's top infectious-disease expert is now the target of a growing number of threats. It's pretty crazy ... Dr. Fauci is facing threats to his personal safety and a wave of unwanted communications from fanatic followers, according to the Washington Post, forcing the feds to step up the good doc's security. Fauci has fast become the face of the nation's response to the coronavirus pandemic, often appearing on TV and taking the podium at President Trump's daily briefings, where he's unafraid to deliver harsh truths about the spread of the virus and the need for Americans to shelter in place. But, with added fame comes added criticism ... and he's facing tons of backlash from different pockets and corners of the online community. While Fauci is suddenly getting more security, the Post says the exact nature of the threats against the doctor remains unclear. As we reported ... Dr. Fauci's face is now plastered on a super-popular donut at a New York bakery ... and now his admirers are reportedly approaching him with requests to sign baseballs and other strange requests. Dr. Fauci's security detail includes agents from the U.S. Marshals Service, according to the Post, and it's been in place since Tuesday at least. While Dr. Fauci and President Trump's messages on the virus have often clashed, Trump says everyone loves the doc. Also worth noting ... Dr. Fauci has advised presidents from both parties in his 36 years as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

https://www.tmz.com/2020/04/01/dr-anthony-fauci-security-detail-threats-coronavirus-trump/

TMZ

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

Florida Ammo Selling Out On Heels of Stay-At-Home Order

Florida residents are gunning for all the ammo they can get their hands on with just hours to go before the state's stay-at-home order goes into effect. We got this pic of the handgun ammo aisle at Academy Sports + Outdoors in West Melbourne, FL. As you can see, anyone looking to load their 9mm, .38 or .45 caliber weapon is S.O.L. -- however, we're told the store still had shotgun shells. Mind you, this was just one hour after Gov. Ron DeSantis issued the stay-at-home order to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The mandate goes into effect at midnight Thursday. Floridians have been arming up all week -- we're told ammo supplies have been low for days, and as soon as stores restock, they're selling out. According to reports ... more than 10,000 Floridians filed paperwork to get a background check, and gun stores have had long lines. It ain't just toilet paper anymore, folks.

https://www.tmz.com/2020/04/01/florida-ammo-selling-out-stay-at-home-order-governor-ron-desantis-coronavirus/

TMZ

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

Disney Forcing Annual Pass Holders to Continue Paying, but Adding Park Days

Disney isn't letting its most loyal customers off the hook because its parks are closed -- they're still getting charged, but the company's trying to make good. The Mouse House sent an e-mail to its Annual Pass members this week -- who, BTW, shell out big bucks for these passes each year -- telling them their scheduled monthly payments will continue like normal. Mind you, all Disney theme parks around the world are closed due to the pandemic. It's a pretty crappy situation -- Disney doesn't give people the option of canceling and getting their money back ... at a time when a lot of people are hurting for cash. We've heard of one family being forced to shell out hundreds each month on their passes, despite asking to have their payment obligations paused or completely axed outright. A Disney operator told them the same thing this e-mail is saying ... no way out, pony up. That, of course, puts a lot of people in a tough spot, as they struggle to make ends meet right now. Disney is offering a consolation ... Pass Holders will get the days they're missing out on now tacked on to the end of their expiration date. As for the cost ... a top-end annual pass at Disney World comes in at $1295 (before tax) and top-end at Disneyland is $1449 ... or just over $105 per month after a downpayment of $179.

https://www.tmz.com/2020/04/01/disney-forcing-annual-pass-holders-continue-paying-park-days/

TMZ

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

Nick Cannon Pimps Out His Impala with Custom Nipsey Hussle Tribute

Nick Cannon still has Nipsey Hussle in his thoughts and all over his classic car ... thanks to this sweet new artwork. Nick recently got his 1964 SS Impala's trunk repainted with a custom tribute to the late rapper -- who was gunned down in South L.A. a year ago Tuesday. It's pretty clear, for Nick ... the Marathon continues, indeed. We're told the actor/host/rapper/comedian commissioned Jr's Kustoms to do the airbrush paint job about 2 months ago ... apparently in anticipation of the anniversary. At the moment, the car's sitting in Nick's Ncredible Motorsports warehouse in Los Angeles. Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media. Interesting that Nipsey is still top of mind for Nick ... who made a vow of sorts shortly after the murder. At the time Nipsey had been working on a documentary about Dr. Sebi -- a controversial self-described healer, who claimed to have the cure for several fatal ailments. Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media. Nick implied he would pick up the baton and actually finish the film about Sebi and dropped a trailer for the project Tuesday ... we're told he's close to finishing the whole thing up. Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media. Still, here's hard proof Nipsey's vision and legacy are still a priority for Nick.

https://www.tmz.com/2020/04/01/nick-cannon-impala-car-custom-nipsey-hussle-tribute/

TMZ

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

Pete Buttigieg Says Governors Showing More Leadership Than Trump

Pete Buttigieg says it's inspiring to see the leadership coming from state and local governments during the pandemic -- something he says the White House is lacking. Mayor Pete joined us Wednesday on "TMZ Live" and praised the decency, compassion and informed decisions being displayed by governors, and even mayors. He thinks President Trump's been doing the exact opposite. The former Presidential candidate says it doesn't even feel like we have a President any more -- despite daily virus briefings from POTUS. Pete says it's all about proper messaging ... not so much about Trump's hair. NY Governor Andrew Cuomo is getting a lot of praise for the way he's handled his state's astronomical COVID-19 stats. As a result, many are hoping he can make a late run to become the Democratic nominee -- but Mayor Pete is sticking with Joe Biden, telling us why Obama's VP would make a much better Prez than Trump. As for Pete's new facial hair and buzz cut 'do? Well, check out Wednesday's "TMZ Live" ... 'cause we dug into his quarantine-life changes.

https://www.tmz.com/2020/04/01/pete-buttigieg-governors-mayors-showing-leadership-donald-trump-lacking/

TMZ

2020-04-01 00:00:00

2020

4.0

1

Ruth Bader Ginsburg Still Working Out with Trainer Despite Coronavirus

Here's some good news we can all use ... Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her trusted trainer are still pumping iron despite the coronavirus shutting down gyms across much of the country. Go Ruth, go!!! The Supreme Court Justice's personal trainer, Bryant Johnson, says his client continues to work out twice weekly inside her private gym in the Supreme Court building. As for the 'rona ... Johnson says 87-year-old Ginsburg "ain't having it" in regards to stopping. Johnson hasn't shut down at her request, and he told Law360 she's his only client right now. They are taking the pandemic seriously, though. Johnson says they're wiping down every machine and piece of equipment they use thoroughly, and are also trying to maintain social distance between themselves as well. Sounds like it works. Johnson says he doesn't really need to hold the notorious RBG's hand when it comes to the routine, adding that as soon as he lays a certain exercise area out ... she already recognizes it and proceeds without him having to be so close to her to explain much of anything. Some of the exercises she does ... planks, push-ups and others. Ruthie's famously known for getting her sweat on. Stephen Colbert documented his attempt to keep up with her recently, and it was pretty hilarious ... she was kinda out of his league and in her own world when it comes to fitness. On another note ... it sounds like she's still working when it comes to SCOTUS biz too. Law360 notes she calls into conference chats via phone with the other robes these days.

https://www.tmz.com/2020/04/01/ruth-bader-ginsburg-rbg-justice-working-out-gym-trainer-coronavirus/

TMZ