'Amid struggles, trials, or even times of great happiness and prosperity, how can we learn to keep Christ at the center of our lives? Why is it so important that we do so?'

Thursday on Political Rewind , a metric that gives fresh perspective on how to view Gov. Brian Kemp’s decision to reopen the state: the number of new people infected by each person infected by COVID-19. That number went down during shelter-in-place orders in Georgia. How do the experts expect this rate to change now that restrictions have been partially lifted?

The coronavirus pandemic has lead to major changes for homes and businesses, including more frequent use of chemicals and disinfectants. While they do help, some can be dangerous to human health and the environment. Professor John Meeker , senior associate dean for research at the University of Michigan's School of Public Health, spoke with WEMU's David Fair about how best to safely use these products on "Issues of the Environment."

This is part of a series looking at pressing coronavirus questions of the week. We'd like to hear what you're curious about. Email us at goatsandsoda@npr.org with the subject line: "Weekly Coronavirus Questions." More than 76,000 people in the U.S. have died because of COVID-19, and there have been 1.27 million confirmed cases across the country — and nearly 4 million worldwide. Though the virus continues to spread and sicken people, some states and countries are starting to reopen businesses and lift stay-at-home requirements. This week, we look at some of your questions as summer nears and restrictions are eased. Is it safe to swim in pools or lakes? Does the virus spread through the water? People are asking whether they should be concerned about being exposed to the coronavirus while swimming. Experts say water needn't be a cause for concern. The CDC says there is no evidence the virus that causes COVID-19 can be spread to people through the water in pools, hot tubs, spas or water

Construction personnel of all types need to understand the role that civil construction drawings, or blueprints, play in the construction process. In this course, Jim Rogers explains why civil construction drawings matter and discusses how to use them on construction projects and job sites. Jim digs into the common features of civil construction drawings, going over standard details, project specifications, how to find the scale information of each drawing, and how to measure dimensions on construction drawings. He then shows how to decipher different types of civil construction drawings, including site and plot plans that describe how to locate structures on a property; grading and drainage plans that capture existing ground conditions and help determine the extent of the construction work to be completed; street improvement plans; and more.

'Amid struggles, trials, or even times of great happiness and prosperity, how can we learn to keep Christ at the center of our lives? Why is it so important that we do so?'

Just chat it up, fuzzballs!

It is May 8th and time for the latest check-in thread. As previously ([4][3][2][1])) this is for actual news, updates, personal experiences, and more mutual support from and to people dealing with this virus in their daily lives. All hail the mods for continuing to provide this sanctuary for us, and good health to readers and commenters alike. How is one doing?

Updated at 6:12 p.m. ET Andy Serkis, the physically nimble actor largely known for his CGI-assisted roles, did some quarantine reading, performing the entirety of The Hobbit in a livestream on Friday. On a Gofundme page established for the event, Serkis wrote that he would conduct the 12-hour marathon reading of J.R.R. Tolkien's beloved fantasy novel to raise funds for COVID-19 relief efforts. Depending on his copy, that's some 300 pages of Bilbo Baggins' adventure from his humble hobbit hole in the Shire to the mountain lair of the fearsome dragon Smaug – and back again, read and performed by Serkis. The actor began reading the novel at around 10 a.m. in the United Kingdom (that's 5 a.m. ET). "Together we'll face the might of the trolls, journey to the magical Rivendell, encounter the giant spiders in the labyrinths of Mirkwood, and the evil goblins living among the roots of the Misty Mountains, until we meet the dragon Smaug, and see the Battle of the Five Armies," Serkis wrote on

On this edition of "Two Way Street," we sit down with four smart, well read Georgians to discuss their favorite books. This conversation picks up the discussion started by " The Great American Read ," an eight-part PBS series that unpacks a diverse list of 100 books. "The Great American Read" premieres Tuesday May 22 at 8 PM on GPB. Our guests today are Oglethorpe Unvirersity Creative Writing Professor Jessica Handler , Bitter Southerner Editor in Chief Chuck Reece , Altanta International School Headmaster Kevin Glass, and On Second Thought's new host Virigina Prescott .

Amtrak is the latest transportation provider to require all passengers to wear facial coverings or masks to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, beginning Monday. The intercity passenger rail agency joins most of the nation's passenger airlines and many public transit systems in requiring coverings or face masks on passengers. Customers will have to "wear a facial covering over their nose and mouth while in stations, on trains and [Thruway] buses," Amtrak said in a news release. "Facial coverings can be removed when customers are eating in designated areas, in their private rooms, or seated alone or with a travel companion in their own pair of seats. Small children who are not able to maintain a facial covering are exempt from this requirement." "The safety of Amtrak's customers and employees is our top priority," Amtrak President and CEO Bill Flynn said in a statement, "and requiring a facial covering is one more way we can protect everyone." To maintain physical distancing on

Have you ever told someone, “Hey, I read that book!” then continued with a guilty, “…well, I listened to the audio version.” It’s time to wash that guilt right out of your soul, because in this edition of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke, talk about how our brains process...

This is too good to leave on the cutting room floor. Dr. Art Markman explains new research on how dogs read human facial expressions and what it could tell us about how they think.

We're back after a skipped month with an unsurprisingly longer-than-usual podcast episode, as jessamyn and I chatter about all the ususal site stuff (a month's worth is generally too much, two months definitely so) and also talk a little about MeFi history, recent site challenges, the 20th anniversary, and so on. Runs just about two hours total.

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Misc
- the fantastic number 154
- will my cat eat my eyeballs (a children's book)
- Shirley Jackson's Raising Demons
- for some unfathomable reason, James Taylor
- only old people know what the red room was
- pix from Jess's 20th anniversary meetup


Jobs ~ 0:10
- Software Quality Engineer by MasterOfNone
- Jeweler/Crafty Person by holborne
- Be My First-Ever Career Coach, Or Refer Me To One by EmpressCallipygos


Projects ~ 0:14
- PixelPirate by ph00dz
- Metafilter Usage 2010-2019 by Tell Me No Lies
- Apollo 11 (+50 years) Google Calendar by tss
- How to Make a Phonotrope Video with Drawn Animation by tessmartin


MetaFilter ~ 0:50
- Amazon promotion error: we have cameras. by ardgedee
- It's more involved than you might think by clawsoon
- How not to die at a Baseball Game by meech
- Book dorks forever by ArbitraryAndCapricious
- The Long Road to Pride by nikaspark
- Enter Starman by adept256
- Rube Goldberg steps back for a three.... it's good! by not_on_display
- It's not strange by Orange Dinosaur Slide
- Gangsta's Paradise but every other beat is Amish Paradise by bondcliff
- We sell our pizzas for $16.50. Here's how the costs break down. by Etrigan
- Cats the Musical: 2019 'Live Action' Movie trailer [SLYT 2min 41sec] by Faintdreams
- a comment by kyrademon
- What, Me Worry? by chavenet
- "We are writing to express our grave concern..." by frumiousb


Ask MeFi ~1:22
- Is There a Word for this Type of Place? by Sassyfras
- How to unhide a body by drlith
- Town in Hungary by mgrrl
- Why would a man have manicured long nails on only one hand? by Mid
- Pre-purchase: Septic Fixed, Yard is Gone by yes I said yes I will Yes
- 80's students, what films were your film society showing then? by AuroraSky
- What's this mystery squash? by GuyZero
- Weirdly Specific Packing and Possession Lists? by Ms Vegetable
- We were promised jet packs. by pxe2000
- What's your choice for best song intros? by ashbury


MetaTalk ~1:43
- RIP LeLiLo by MtDewd
- Anxiety/depression/ADHD/autism/bipolar & other neurodivergences on MeFi by diss track able
- Another person of color only thread by Brandon Blatcher
- Decommissioning the US politics megathreads by cortex
- Megathread.org? r/megathread? megathread.dreamwidth.com? by biogeo
- State of the Site, July 2019 update by cortex
- Following up on last month's discussions: immediate actions and planning by cortex
- Following up on last month's discussions: medium and long-term work by cortex
- Happy 20th Anniversary, MetaFilter by cortex


FanFare
- Book: The Fifth Season by dinty_moore
- The Haunting of Hill House: Season 1 by skycrashesdown
- Book: The Library Book by Homo neanderthalensis


MeFi Music
Featured in this episode:
- Happy Birthday To You From Dan by dagosto
- Natural, I Guess by snofoam
- F9mily (You & Me) by OverlappingElvis
- Know what u want by nikaspark
- Here Come the Warm Jets by Television Name

This episode was originally posted on Nov. 18, 2018. In school, our reading choices are mostly dictated by what is assigned for classes or from reading lists. But once we are out of school, the decisions are up to us.  In this episode of KUT’s podcast “Higher Ed,” Southwestern University President Dr. Ed Burger and...

You can use any RSS reader. http://electro-music.com/forum/rss.php

I've read it and you are absolutely right, thanks. There is a letsencrypt certificate already which is being renewed and all - I need to sort out some stuff first though before I can put it in.

Ms. Reade’s former husband said she spoke of a sexual harassment problem she had when working in Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s Senate office. Mr. Biden has denied her allegation of sexual assault.

Listen to Dread Change (08:35)

By Artist/Band
Danielle Friedman

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School of Fish (Independent)

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PHILADELPHIA — Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Pennsylvania Department of Health now recommend we all wear face masks when going about essential tasks in public, as part of the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. Those types of masks have become a hot topic online during the ongoing outbreak, and are […]

Even if school returns after May 4, the WIAA may allow some competition.

Amazon-owned Whole Foods will provide grocery shoppers with free single-use masks at all its stores beginning this week, in keeping with the chain's "request" that all shoppers wear masks.

NO DISRESPECT TO anybody who really loves the winter holiday season, but for most gardeners, spring is actually “the most wonderful time of the year.” Here in the Northwest, spring starts early. March is the de facto launch of each year’s vegetable garden season. Of course, with proper planning, you can have crops in the […]

The most recent Census numbers show some major metropolitan areas that shone during the post-recession years now are losing population. But that doesn’t mean an equitable spreading of economic assets, much less a halt to the “back to the city” era. At least not yet.

Using an iPhone X, reader Kelsey R Nagel caught this image of deer in Olympic National Park.

In a bid to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, Starbucks will temporarily close some of its North American locations and will shift to a “to-go” model at the rest of its more than 10,000 North American stores. The closures, which were announced and implemented Sunday afternoon, will last at least two weeks and […]

The fallout from Luckin Coffee’s accounting scandal is spreading far beyond the high-flying Starbucks challenger, with renewed concerns about Chinese corporate governance dragging down stocks across industries and threatening to bring a halt to the country’s overseas initial public offerings. The Xiamen-based coffee chain said on Thursday that its chief operating officer and some underlings […]

Five TSA employees nationwide have died of COVID-19, and 516 employees have tested positive, including seven at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

One reader captured this excellent shot of a stunning wood duck wading across the water, showing that self-isolation sometimes really all it’s quacked up to be.

As always, a big “thank you” to our front-line workers for their selfless, tireless service — and, in this instance, for sharing a hopeful image of the Seattle skyline, shot from West Seattle on a recent morning.

Hanauer, whose club won the 2019 MLS Cup, said all ideas are being considered by MLS owners in order to resume play.

Gov. Jay Inslee has banned event gatherings of more than 250 people in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties. King and Snohomish counties went further, prohibiting events under 250 people, unless they meet certain public health guidelines. Here's how arts and culture groups are responding.

Most people are still in quarantine due to the novel coronavirus, and UW's live mascot Dubs II is no exception. But this adorable Alaskan malamute -- and UW's social media team -- are providing much-needed cute dog content when all of us need it most.

We asked Seattle Times readers to make something with green beans, an egg, tomato sauce and potatoes and to tell us what you created — and our readers did not disappoint. These 12 were the strongest entries.

One reader captured this excellent shot of a stunning wood duck wading across the water, showing that self-isolation sometimes really all it’s quacked up to be.

As always, a big “thank you” to our front-line workers for their selfless, tireless service — and, in this instance, for sharing a hopeful image of the Seattle skyline, shot from West Seattle on a recent morning.

We asked Seattle Times readers to make something with green beans, an egg, tomato sauce and potatoes and to tell us what you created — and our readers did not disappoint. These 12 were the strongest entries.

RAVE to the Washington State Employment Security Department. I had never submitted an unemployment claim before and wasn’t sure what to expect, particularly as I am self-employed. The process was explained clearly and took about 25 minutes. The money was in my account in two days. I am so grateful that I plan to contribute […]

Five TSA employees nationwide have died of COVID-19, and 516 employees have tested positive, including seven at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

RANT to families that are not social distancing their kids from others. Including those families from Western Washington that come to weekend homes in Central and Eastern Washington and don’t wear masks or social distance. RAVE to the O’Reilly employee who not only helped me, but took the time to teach me how to change […]

How citizen ‘reporters’ and marauding coyotes took over the neighborhood ‘news cycle.

As in many smaller Northwest towns, things are changing rapidly here.

Amazon-owned Whole Foods will provide grocery shoppers with free single-use masks at all its stores beginning this week, in keeping with the chain's "request" that all shoppers wear masks.

Five TSA employees nationwide have died of COVID-19, and 516 employees have tested positive, including seven at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

On March 20, the day spring officially arrived, NOAA published its April-to-June forecast. For Western Washington, it’s looking pretty good, people. Think warmer and drier weather. Here’s what NOAA said: “For precipitation, odds favor drier-than-normal conditions for the Alaska panhandle, western Washington and Oregon. …”  And  temps will be  “warmer-than-normal” for western Washington. Sure, we’ll […]

Five TSA employees nationwide have died of COVID-19, and 516 employees have tested positive, including seven at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

Amazon-owned Whole Foods will provide grocery shoppers with free single-use masks at all its stores beginning this week, in keeping with the chain's "request" that all shoppers wear masks.

The Cottage at Blue Ridge has become a sort of local phenomenon: A bread popup launched last summer in the Edmonds enclave of Perrinville, that typically sells out its weekly goods in less than two hours.

Sara Porkalob, Seattle-based playwright, director, activist and more, is off to Broadway — but before she goes, she shared what she’s been reading and rereading lately.