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Letters: Fears over lockdown if rest of UK eases measures before Scotland

I’M very worried about what’s going to happen after the weekend when the rest of the UK begins to ease lockdown, while Scotland chooses not to.




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Kim Long: We can’t ignore the importance of mental health during lockdown

Our Green Party columnist has her say.




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Glasgow artists join together for lockdown phone film project

MISSING beloved grandparents is something we can all relate to during coronavirus lockdown – now a Glasgow poet has made a 60-second film about it.




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City Visions: Pandemic Takes Toll on Local Nonprofits

San Francisco Chronicle health reporter Erin Allday and UCSF infectious disease specialist Dr. Peter Chin-Hong discuss the latest coronavirus-related news. In the second half of the program, a panel of nonprofit leaders explore how COVID-19 is impacting local nonprofits. How can you help -- from home?




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Glasgow's funniest Granda Gary Meikle talks us through his coronavirus lock-down

WHEN the world first came across Gary Meikle, we met his eyebrows before his face.




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Music Venue Trust says lockdown impact could be 'catastrophic' to Glasgow music venues

Small music venues across the city could be among some of the hardest hit businesses due to the coronavirus crisis, a charity has said.




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Guests flock to San Francisco's Bird Hotel

Birgit Soyka stands in a large warehouse amongst 68 bird cages, each holding an exotic bird. The walls are covered in photos of brightly colored parrots, and bird-shaped tchotchkes dot the room. She cradles Boogie, a Congo African gray, and a regular guest at the San Francisco Bird Hotel, a spa and resort for birds. “Hi Boogie,” Soyka says; the bird coos in response. As the owner of the San Francisco Bird Hotel, Soyka takes care of Boogie and up to 150 other birds at a time. Her bird-boarding business started back in 2006, when Soyka, who says she’s always loved birds, agreed to “bird sit” a friend’s pet. “It was the beginning of a big snowball and avalanche,” Soyka says. “Out of this one bird came three birds, then 10 birds, then 100 birds.” In 2014, her small business turned into a full-blown bird spa and resort. At the Bird Hotel, all the cages are named after castles around the world; there’s Charlottenburg Palace, Hearst Castle and the Taj Mahal, just to name a few. There are




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Geek Out with Cloud Microphones’ New Podcast, “The Mic Locker”

Cloud Microphones makes the best in-line mic preamp boosters, and now they have a new podcast to geek out over microphones and audio!





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4 Easy Ways to Share Your Faith During the Coronavirus Lockdown

By the Amazing Facts Webmaster

Recently, I was at the grocery store picking up a few items. When I got to the cashier at the checkout line, I tried to engage her in conversation by asking a few simple questions. (I find it’s easier to share materials with people if you’ve broken the ice.) I asked if “things were crazy there lately,” and she said yes, commenting on how rapidly their recent shipment of toilet paper had disappeared.

As she was finishing up, she asked me if I needed a bag. I told her no and pulled mine out and set it on the counter. She said that because of the COVID-19 pandemic, they were not allowed to touch our bags and that I would have to bag my own groceries. After she told me this, the thought went through my mind that “she probably won’t take any material that I try to give to her.” So I bagged up my groceries and left without attempting to share any tracts or DVDs with her.*

That left me wondering: “How do we share our faith during a lockdown?” 

Right now, if you knock on someone’s door, they're not likely to answer it. If you try to hand them a tract, they may not take it. Even having face-to-face Bible studies with people is more of a challenge now.

Yet, at this time, people are wondering what on earth is happening. They’re wondering what all of these rapid changes mean, and they want answers. As Christians who understand Bible prophecy, we have the answers that they need, but circumstances have made it more challenging to give those answers the way that we used to.

So here are a few ideas on ways that you can reach out to people and share your faith during the coronavirus lockdown: [PQ-HERE]


1. Use Your Phone!

One of the pastors at our church is continuing to have Bible studies with people but instead of going to their homes, he’s doing it over the phone. Also, many people who may not be Christians appreciate prayer and would not pass up an opportunity to pray with someone. Lots of people are out of work and don’t know what to do or where to turn—so give somebody a buzz and see what happens.

2. Use Social Media! 

Many more people are online now. If you have a social media account, instead of posting only cat videos, post something of substance that speaks to the times in an intelligent and informed way. Ask thought-provoking questions and see what kind of dialogue it generates. You may find many opportunities to share as others express their thoughts and concerns about the things that are happening right now.

3. Use Text Messages! 

Who doesn’t have a cell phone nowadays? I personally don’t have a smartphone, but texting still works on my “dumb” phone! Send Bible verses or inspirational quotes to people. And if you don’t have a cell phone, you can still send text messages if you have a Google Voice account, which is free.

4. Use Snail Mail! 

Although someone might not take a tract directly from your hand at this time, they would likely have no problem if they got it in the mail. Lots of people are stuck at home and, quite honestly, they’re bored! Send them something to read or watch. A friend of mine mentioned that they were looking up random names and addresses in the phone book and sending an uplifting card with a Bible tract in it. What a great idea! 

I felt inspired by that and, over the weekend, I hand-wrote a brief letter to several neighbors on a nearby street and placed a Final Events of Bible Prophecy and Kingdoms in Time DVD, as well as an 8 Amazing Steps to Optimize Your Health and Ancient Prophecies That Reveal the Future! Amazing Fact Tracts.

I hand-wrote the notes because people are more likely to open a handwritten envelope and to read a handwritten letter. If you choose to do this, you can put your name or just identify yourself as a friend or neighbor; it’s up to you, but it’s a great way to share with people while they’re under lockdown. (Here is a link to the letter that I sent out with the materials. Feel free to use and modify it as you see fit: Dear-Friend.pdf.)

How are you sharing your faith at this time? Please share your ideas in the comments below. Others might be inspired by what you’re doing! Just because we’re under lock-down doesn't mean that we can’t be about our Father’s business. Let’s be prayerful and look for creative ways to reach out to others.


*Just a note, I still should have offered her a resource and allowed her to decide if she wanted it or not. The next store I went to, instead of assuming that the cashier wouldn't take anything, I asked him if I could give him something. The young man said, “It depends on what it is.” I pulled a Final Events of Bible Prophecy DVD out of my purse, and he said, ‘Oh yeah! I'll take that.’ Praise the Lord! But what if I had not offered it?




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Indian Police Force Tourists Violating Lockdown To Write 'I Am Very Sorry' 500 Times

Indian police have the unenviable task of enforcing the world's biggest coronavirus lockdown . But last weekend, they handed down a punishment more common in a middle-school classroom than a police station. Ten foreign tourists caught flouting India's coronavirus restrictions Saturday were made to write the phrase "I did not follow the rules of lockdown. I am very sorry" 500 times and submit the paper to police. The incident happened at a sandy beach along the Ganges River near Rishikesh, a tourist hub in northern India famous for yoga retreats and hippie hangouts. It's where the Beatles made a spiritual pilgrimage in 1968. An officer who answered the phone Monday at the Muni Ki Reti police station near Rishikesh confirmed details to NPR, but declined an interview. The tourists were reportedly from Israel, Mexico, Australia and Austria, and were walking along the river when Indian police intervened. Under India's lockdown, all nonessential outings are banned. Video shared online by




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Dislocated by srednivashtar

Upbeat and jangly with an orchestral edge. Trying to keep up with posting a song every month or so, this was recorded at the tail end of last summer.




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LA Radio DJ Nic Harcourt On 5 Recent Local Music Discoveries

You might not be able to pack your bag, get on an airplane and jet off to some new exciting place right now, but don't worry, you can still travel and explore here with World Cafe Sense of Place. In this series, we take you deep into one city's music scene, and today, we're kicking off our sessions from Los Angeles, with more to come every Friday in May. We start with a bit of an overview from someone who really knows what he's talking about. Nic Harcourt is a legendary name in LA radio. He hosted Morning Becomes Eclectic on KCRW for many years, and now he's a host at our affiliate station, 88.5 KCSN/KSBR. We recently connected with Nic via video chat to find out what's going on right now, the new LA bands you need to be listening to: Freedom Fry, The Buttertones, Los Abandoned, Pure Protein and Brad Byrd. Hear songs from each of them at the top of the playlist below, which also features artists and songs you'll be hearing in the coming weeks. Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit




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Coesfeld verschiebt Lockerungen um eine Woche

Nach dem Ausbruch des Coronavirus in einer Fleischfabrik in Coesfeld werden die Lockerungen teilweise verschoben. Mit mehr als 50 Infizierten pro 100.000 Einwohner gilt der Kreis als Risikogebiet.




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Facebook Blocking DJs For Livestreaming Copyrighted Content

We are getting reports of Facebook blocking users who repeatedly attempt to broadcast their DJ sets containing copyrighted music on Facebook Live. While on nearly all platforms it is technically not allowed to broadcast material you do not own the copyright for, or have permission to use directly from the rights holder (ie nearly every … Continued The post Facebook Blocking DJs For...

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During Lockdown, Magician Turns To The Internet For His Next Performance

Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit NOEL KING, HOST: Good morning. I'm Noel King. Karan Singh (ph) has performed magic tricks for famous actors, athletes and politicians. Now he'll perform for you for free. All you have to do is ask. Like many artists under lockdown, Singh has traded in-person performances for online ones. So pick a card. (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING) KING: Visualize your card. Did I get it? KING: He's already done shows for over 400 households from his bedroom in New Delhi - the magic of the Internet. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.




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ESX8GT Clock Out .1 by bhenry1790

Test to see if this will work with the ESX8GT Expanders




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Sharing feelings and creative opportunities during lockdown

I worked with a group of young creative / technical folks (mostly POC) to create an emotional mapping site. Tag a location and share how you're feeling — and check out the three opportunities for funded creative 'residencies'.

A big inspiration was Queering the Map.

[Link]




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Ahmaud Arbery Family, Local Leaders Call For Brunswick DA To Resign

A huge crowd rallied in Brunswick Friday to celebrate the arrests made in the February shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery, and to call for further action.




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Writer’s Block (Rebroadcast)

Writer’s block! That phrase might induce panic and a recollection of a familiar experience. It’s a very common phenomenon. So what is it? When in the beginning stages of undertaking a new writing project, a writer might find themselves blocked – stuck in front of a blank page or screen with no thoughts coming to...




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How To Crush Writer’s Block (Rebroadcast)

Writer’s block! That phrase might induce panic and a recollection of a familiar experience. It’s a very common phenomenon. So what is it? In this edition of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke explain the ins and outs of how and why we sometimes get stuck – and what...




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161: Change Your Ding-Dang Clocks

Podcast? Podcast! Me and jessamyn, podcasting. It's the podcast thing, with jessamyn and with me, and it's this! Here you go. Seventy-five minutes? Podcast. Hi. Hello. Don't forget to reset your clocks if that happens this weekend. Podcast.

Helpful Links

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Misc
- 161 is boring
- jessamyn saw some taxidermy at the library
- I have lately been carving stuff in linoleum and making some prints
- yes dammit the Marblelympics exists

Projects
- Greens Alignment Chart by youarenothere
- YOU (September 1994 – June 1996) by dng
- The Amazing Kondoizer by morspin
- Avocado'n'Toast by malevolent (MeFi Post)

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- Project Coordinator, National Farmers Union-Ontario by mcbaya
- Help us find a name for our music app by vert canard

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- Inspire! Engage! Empower! by jessamyn
- My 72 Hours in a Viral Tweet Vortex: A Diary by Etrigan
- Comment Culture, or, What The Hell Is Wrong With People? by soundguy99
- Wikipedia Is the Last Best Place on the Internet by growabrain
- Google controls which political emails land in your inbox by clawsoon
- "never wtf is wrong w/ you" by not_the_water

Ask MeFi
- Do you know anything about working in a cookie factory in the 1960s? by swheatie
- How did The Simpsons translate 'cromulent' in other countries? by some little punk in a rocket
- What is the worst thing you could find while digging in your back yard? by Black Cordelia
- UTC time with the most uniform date by Tehhund

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- Trans people on MeFi - discussion space? by winterhill
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Featured tracks this episode:
- Played Out by subocoyne
- Irish Jig Set by gorbichov
- Head Like A Hole by Maaik
- touch my hovercraft - tr0n1que by The Vice Admiral of the Narrow Seas
- Jazz Guy by invitapriore





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This Song: Flock of Dimes // Lucy Dacus

Jenn Wasner of Flock of Dimes and Wye Oak takes you through why Joni Mitchell's "Amelia" both comforts and terrifies her. And Lucy Dacus explains how the Cure's "Just Like Heaven" is a friendly ghost in her life, and how Prince's "I Would Die 4 You," helped expand her idea of how cool a song about God could be.





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This Song: Nik Ewing, aka Chewing, of Local Natives

Nik Ewing, leader of the band Chewing and bass player and vocalist for Local Natives, explains why he chose to cover Dennis Wilson's solo album "Pacific Ocean Blue" in it's entirety. This project is part of Turntable Kitchen's Sounds Delicious series.




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DNC Is Told Where to Move Into Bush Bloc

Howard Dean's Democratic National Committee has been studying the electorate, and the party's problem with voters of faith is both worse and better than he feared.





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Big question at NFL rookie webinar: locker room assimilation


Seahawks WR DK Metcalf and former Cougars QB Gardner Minshew shared their experiences as first-year players with 547 players in the NFL’s first rookie webinar after the draft last month.




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Canadian provinces allow locked-down households to pair up — threatening hurt feelings all around


While jurisdictions around the world begin to relax coronavirus restrictions, a handful are pioneering a novel — and potentially fraught — approach: The double bubble. In Canada they're doing it in Newfoundland, Labrador and New Brunswick.





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Big question at NFL rookie webinar: locker room assimilation


Seahawks WR DK Metcalf and former Cougars QB Gardner Minshew shared their experiences as first-year players with 547 players in the NFL’s first rookie webinar after the draft last month.




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Seattle Urban Farm Company cultivates customized rooftop crops for local-food-focused restaurants


Produce selection is geared toward each chef’s menu offerings.





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Photo gallery: Coronavirus lockdowns ease, precautions remain across a wary world





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Padlocked and chained: Images of a closed Seattle


The padlock business must be having an uptick with all the businesses closed because of the coronavirus. Widely seen in Seattle during the pandemic, locks and chains convey the sense of a city on pause. Some businesses considered essential have limited hours and curbside pickup. Others are hoping to open soon, and some are shuttered […]






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Photo gallery: Coronavirus lockdowns ease, precautions remain across a wary world





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Padlocked and chained: Images of a closed Seattle


The padlock business must be having an uptick with all the businesses closed because of the coronavirus. Widely seen in Seattle during the pandemic, locks and chains convey the sense of a city on pause. Some businesses considered essential have limited hours and curbside pickup. Others are hoping to open soon, and some are shuttered […]





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I was never a runner. Now, to stay sane during coronavirus lockdown, I am running. And you can, too.


While growing up, running was never this writer's idea of fun. But something has changed in recent months, and his presence on sidewalks and running trails around Seattle should be proof enough that you can, and should, also try things you always thought you hated. Because, why not?




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Trump ban on fetal tissue research blocks coronavirus treatment effort


A senior scientist at a government biomedical research laboratory has been thwarted in his efforts to conduct experiments on possible treatments for the new coronavirus because of the Trump administration’s restrictions on research with human fetal tissue. The scientist, Kim Hasenkrug, an immunologist at the National Institutes of Health’s Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Montana, has […]




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The Backstory: A global premiere of Earth Day art, and a collection of rare, local talent   


ON APRIL 22, 202o, a billion people around the world will mark the 50th anniversary of Earth Day — except, this year, likely not together. Ironically, a small forest of trees will be sacrificed for print publications around the globe to analyze the lasting impact of Earth Day, deep-dive into a half-century of environmental activism […]



  • Pacific NW Magazine

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What you should know as Washington’s outdoor lands reopen Tuesday after coronavirus lockdown


More than 100 Washington state parks will reopen for day use on Tuesday. But this doesn't mean you should abandon social distancing practices. Here's what you need to know before you go.




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Solve stay-home lockdown boredom with these 3 new crime novels


From the godfather of crime fiction to a fresh new voice in the genre, here are three gripping new cases for you to solve from the comfort of your reading chair.





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Congress may want to learn from Canada before it tries to prop up local news with a COVID-19 ad campaign


Supporters of local journalism in Congress say a nationwide campaign of public service announcements about COVID-19 would both inform citizens and throw local news outlets a lifeline. But Canada tried the same thing 40 days ago and little of the money has reached news publishers.




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Early learning: ‘Think both locally and globally’


Re: “Pandemic exposes our neglect of children, families” [April 26, Opinion]: Tim Burgess points out that “nowhere are our systemic failures more damaging and longer lasting than in the education of our children,” and he goes on to note research that early learning opportunities in child care and preschool can have a lifetime impact. As […]




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Lockdown order: Where’s the ‘practicality and common sense’?


Gov. Jay Inslee’s continued lockdown is not giving us transparency on metrics for reopening the state. Even with the so-called “phased approach,” there’s nothing that the public can look for to know whether the next phase is in sight. The governor keeps talking about “data.” The Seattle Times publishes graphs of the daily number of […]