Des Moines, IA The grass is starting to turn green and a turfgrass specialist with the Iowa State University Extension says its time to begin working on our lawns. I-S-U horticulture professor Adam Thoms says the first thing he does is to pick up all of those twigs, sticks and other debris that gathered during the winter so it wont get stuck in the mower or dull its blade.

The stores are full of heavy fertilizer bags and they can be pricey. What ingredients should we be looking for in a fertilizer for the yard?

Some Iowans may be finding large grey spots in their yards, which he says can be fixed without too much trouble.

Now is also the time to hit those pesky weeds that seem to creep back every year.

If youre planting grass this spring, he warns do -not- use any crabgrass prevention products as theyll keep your grass seeds from germinating.

Continued here:
Spring's here & it's time to start working on our lawns KCHA News - KCHA News

Ticks commonly overwinter by nesting in groups; taking refuge under the soil, ground litter, and snow cover which acts as an insulating blanket, sheltering them from the frigid winter temperatures. When warmer weather arrives, they position themselves on vegetation and wait patiently, front legs outstretched, for any warm-blooded host to pass by; a behavior known as questing. When one does, the tick latches on and soon begins taking its next blood meal.

Ticks and tick-borne diseases have become a significant public health issue in New York. Its imperative that you protect yourself, your family, and your pets when enjoying the outdoors.

According to some experts, ticks have been on the planet for about 120 million years; literally forever.

In the journal Nature, Volume 206, Issue 4988, pp. 1060-1061 (1965),an article titled Ticks in Egypt in 1500 BC? by D.R. Arthur,featuresa drawing dating back to the 15th Century BC showing what are believed to be three ticks fixed firmly to the ear of a hyena. And a recent autopsy on a 5,300-year-old mummy indicated the presence of the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.

In his Historia Animalium, Aristotle (384322 B.C.) describes the tick as a disgusting parasitic animal generated from couch grass. The Roman scholar, Pliny the Elder (2379 A.D.), in his extensive natural history of the world, Historia Naturalis, denotes an animal living on blood with its head always fixed and swelling, adding that this animal is frequent on cattle, sometimes on dogs. He goes on to call them the foulest and nastiest creatures that be.

German physician, Alfred Buchwald, first described the chronic skin rash now known as Lyme disease in 1883. It wasnt clinically recognized, however, until 1975, when a group of children and adults in and around the hamlet of Lyme, Connecticut, were suffering from skin rashes followed very quickly by arthritic conditions, headaches, and fatigue. All cited being bitten by ticks. Researchers called the condition Lyme disease, but the cause remained a mystery until 1981, when medical entomologist and self-described tick surgeon, Wilhelm (Willy) Burgdorfer,discovered the infectious agent that causes Lyme disease, a bacterial spirochete that now bears his name;Borrelia burgdorferi.

Lyme disease (or Lyme borreliosis) is one of the fastest-growing vector-borne infections in the United States with, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 400,000 new cases reported annually. Untreated, Lyme disease can become severely debilitating; affecting joints, the heart, the brain, and/or the central nervous system.

Roughly half a million Americans currently grapple with late-stage Lyme disease, for which there is no recognized cure. Long-term antibiotic use remains controversial.

The blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis, more commonly known as the deer tick, is the primary vector for Lyme disease.

With geographic spread and steadily increasing incidence of Lyme disease, theres an urgent need for homeowners, public health officials, and the pest control industry to learn how to manage and/or control the unrelenting tick problem.

Treating clothing and gearwith products containing 0.5% permethrin can provide extremely effective protection. Permethrin can be used to treat boots, clothing, and camping gear and will remain protective, even after several washings. Read the product label and be sure to follow the directions carefully. The label is the law! You can also buy permethrin-treated clothing and gear.

When hiking or camping, avoid wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter and stick to the center of the trails.The wider the trail and the less vegetation it has beside and within it, the less risky it will be.

When you come indoors, check your clothing, gear, and pets carefully. Tumble drying clothes on high heat for 10-15 minutes will kill ticks.

Conduct a full body check of yourself and your children. Take a shower. And call your doctor if you get a fever or a rash.

Simple steps you can take toreducepotentialexposuretoticks include:

For more information about ticks, tick diseases, and how to avoid them and protect yourself and your family, visit Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) of Franklin Countys online resource, Tick Talk, atfranklin.cce.cornell.edu/gardening-grounds/tick-talk

Top photo: Attached black-legged tick credit: NY State Integrated Pest Management

See the article here:
Ticks: They're baaaaaaack - - The Adirondack Almanack - Adirondack Almanack

Polly Powers Stramm| For Savannah Morning News

This isnt a typical lost dog-found dog story. Instead, its the tale of a three-legged beagle who faced a heartbreaking start in life, was rescued by a dog lover but went missing before the two completely bonded.

Most of all, the story of Snoop the beagle shows how people from all walks of life can come together for a common goal to find a dog who desperately needed a second chance at love.

Last fall, Snoop was a throwaway dog living on the streets in Effingham County and was believed to have been used for hunting and later abandoned. Neighbors kept seeing the little beagle but never saw the man they thought was her owner. They began feeding the skittish dog and became concerned when they noticed that one of her back legs was injured. The Effingham animal shelter was notified and someone there, in turn, called One Love Animal Rescue, which has a history of helping injured animals find forever homes.

Polly Powers Stramm: Savannah woman faces grief with guide dog death, COVID restrictions in finding replacement

Robin Fay volunteers for One Love and offered to foster Snoop until she was ready for adoption. The dog was evaluated by a veterinarian, but her injured hind leg was too far gone to be saved. On top of everything else Snoop had gone through, she had heart worms. She was treated with medicine that caused a bad reaction and had to spend a few days at the vet, further traumatizing her, Robin said.

During the first part of February, One Love decided that Snoop was ready to be adopted, but Robin had grown attached to Snoop and asked for a week to think about the situation.

Jane Fishman: Working vacation a travel challenge for Savannah woman, service dog

After a few days I knew I couldnt give her to someone else, Robin said, adding that Snoop, who is 2, seemed so sad and neglected.

I had never seen a dog (who) wouldnt wag its tail, she added.

Robin decided to adopt Snoop and became what is known in animal rescue circles as a foster fail. On Feb. 12, Snoop officially joined Robin and her animal family a group that includes cats, Tao and Sushi, and a 13-year-old Border Collie named Jersey, who was 10 when Robin rescued him.

Snoop was still getting adjusted to a loving home when she pulled away from Robin while they were on a walk in the Ardmore neighborhood. Robin was holding a lightweight leash that was attached to the dog collar when the pounding of a nail gun spooked Snoop.

More: Volunteers needed as Savannah nonprofits continue their work

The sound of the nail gum scared her and she bolted, pulling the leash from her new owners hand, Robin recalled. With the leash dragging behind her, Snoop ran toward Atlantic Avenue and disappeared into what seemed like thin air. Robin looked for Snoop for more than three hours, then took to social media and other means to try to find the newest addition to her family.

I did everything I could think of, said Robin, who created fliers, sent posters to friends and social media contacts, and visited Chatham County Animal Services on a regular basis. The hunt for Snoop had a domino effect strangers who saw the posters told their friends and so on and truly became a citywide effort, she explained.

The chatter (about Snoop) on social media was crazy, Robin said.

Meanwhile, Robin and others continued to spread the word. Radio deejay Mark Robertson made announcements and police patrolling were on the lookout for a three-legged beagle dragging a leash.

There were no sightings of Snoop for about a week. Then, she was spotted, first around the Starland District and then at 35th and Price streets, some 20 blocks and many busy streets from home.

More: Engaging books get kids moving, improve literacy: Savannah Live Oak Libraries

Somewhere along the way, Robin had read that dogs gravitate toward railroad tracks, a theory that jived with one of the sightings. One night Robin packed up a lawn chair, put a leash on Snoops buddy, Jersey, and set up a makeshift camp in a lane near the crosstown train tracks. It wasnt long before she spotted Snoop peeking out from a patch of weeds not too far away.

She ran toward Jersey and then ran back across the street, Robin said. I never knew her to bark but she started baying. It was the weirdest thing.

Snoop took refuge, of sorts, behind a fence surrounding a group of apartments. Eventually, two rescuers arrived to help Robin and the three women walked in circles around the parking lot trying to coax Snoop into coming their way.

More: Top 10 birds killed in flight because of urban, suburban landscapes

But the frightened dog had gone into full-on survival mode and played peek-a-boo with them until about 3:30 a.m. when they finally called it a night. Robin and others planned to return in the morning with enticing treats like a rotisserie chicken.

The next day, shortly after they had gathered at the apartments, one of the rescuers managed to grab Snoop and hand her off to Robin. At first, not knowing who to trust, Snoop wiggled and struggled to escape Robins loving embrace.

She finally settled down and never struggled again, said Robin who cradled Snoop in her arms. I didnt want this dog to think another human had abandoned her.

Robin credits Jersey with showing up for Snoop during the rescue attempts.

(Jersey) was a champion through it all, she said.

Robin is grateful and amazed at the countless folks who helped her find Snoop. During her search, she even visited homeless camps.

First, I thought I was incredibly lucky to have (Snoop) back, she said. Now I know how incredibly blessed I am to have gotten her back with the support of so, so many.

As soon as Snoop got home, she drank plenty of water and ate, then settled down for a long nap. The next day she didnt even mind being bathed, Robin said.

Funny thing, people who had never seen anything but her flyer have now recognized her at Hull Park or in our front yard, Robin said.

Robin also is happy about something else.

The sweet little three-legged beagle has started wagging her tail, likely indicating that she finally could trust and love a human.

Contact Polly at 912-657-3877 or pollparrot@aol.com. See more columns by Polly Powers Stramm at SavannahNow.com/lifestyle/.

More here:
For the love of a lost three-legged dog, Savannah community responds - Savannah Morning News

Gardening isn't just about plants. Its about the entire ecosystem those plants can support.

As winter phases into spring across the U.S., gardeners are laying in supplies and making plans. Meanwhile, as the weather warms, common garden insects such as bees, beetles, and butterflies will emerge from underground burrows or nests within or on plants.

Most gardeners know how beneficial insects can be for their plots.Flies pollinate flowers. Predatory bugs, such as thespined soldier bug, eat pest insects that otherwise would tuck into garden plants.

As ascientist whose research involves insectsand as a gardener, I know thatmany beneficial insect species are decliningandneed help from humans. If youre a gardener looking for a new challenge this year, consider revamping all or part of your yard to support beneficial insects.

Some gardenerschoose native plantsto attract and support helpful insects. Often, however, those native plants are surrounded by vast expanses of lawn.

The vast majority of insect species find blades of grass as unappetizing as we do. Yet, lawns sprawl out across many public and private spaces.NASA estimated in 2005that lawns covered at least 50,000 square miles of the U.S.about the size of the entire state of Mississippi.

A well-manicured lawn is a sure sign that humanity has imposed its will on nature. Lawns provide an accessible and familiar landscape, but they come at a cost for our six-legged neighbors. Grasses grown as turf provide very few places for insects to safely tuck themselves away, because homeowners and groundskeepers cut them shortbefore they send up flowering spikesand apply fertilizers and pesticides to keep them green.

Entomologists have a recommendation: Dig up some fraction of your lawn and convert it into a meadow byreplacing grass with native wildflowers. Wildflowers provide pollen and nectar that feed and attract a variety of insects like ants, native bees, and butterflies. Just as you may have a favorite local restaurant, insects that live around you have a taste for the flowers that are native to their areas.

This bold choice will not just benefit insects. Healthier insects support local birds, and meadows require fewer chemical inputs and less mowing than lawns. The amount of attention lawns demand from us, even if we outsource the work to a landscaping company, is a sign of their precarity.

A meadow is a wilder, more resilient option. Resilient ecosystems are better able to respond to and recover from disturbances.

EntomologistRyan Gott, integrated pest management and quality control specialist at Maitri Genetics in Pittsburgh, describes lawns and meadows as two opposite ends of a resiliency spectrum. As far as basic ecological functions go, a lawn does not have many. A lawn mainly extracts nutrition and water, usually receiving outside inputs of fertilizer and irrigation to stay alive, and returns very little to the system, he told me.

Native flowers, by definition, will grow well in your climate, although some areas will have more choices than others, and growing seasons vary. Native plants also provide a palette of colors and variety that lawns sorely lack. By planting them as a meadow, with many different flowers emerging throughout the growing season, you can provide for a diverse assortment of local insects. And mowing and fertilizing less will leave you more time to appreciate wildlife of all sizes.

There are many different types of meadows, and every wildflower species has different preferences for soil type and conditions. Meadows thrive in full sunlight, which is also where lawns typically do well.

Not every yard can support a meadow, but you have other ways to be a better, more considerate neighbor to insects. If you have a shady yard, consider modeling your garden after natural landscapes like woodlands that are shady and support insects.

Whats important in landscaping with insects in mind, or entoscaping, isconsidering insects early and oftenwhen you visit the garden store. With a few pots or window boxes, even a balcony can be converted into a cozy insect oasis.

If youre gardenless, you can still support insect health. Try replacing white outdoor lights, whichinterfere with many insects feeding and breeding patterns. White lights also lure insects into swarms, where they are vulnerable to predators.Yellow bulbs or warm-hued LEDsdont have these effects.

Another easy project is using scrap wood and packing materials to create simple hotels forbeesorladybugs, making sure to carefully sanitize them between seasons. Easiest of all,provide water for insects to drinktheyre adorable to watch as they sip. Replace standing water at least weekly to prevent mosquitoes from developing.

Many resources across the U.S. offer advice on converting your lawn or making your yard more insect-friendly.

The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation publishes aguide to establishing meadowsto sustain insects. Local university extension officespost tips on growing meadowswith specific instructions and resources for their areas. Gardening stores often have experience and carry selections of local plants.

You may find established communities of enthusiasts for local plants and seeds, or your journey could be the start of such a group. Part of the fun of gardening is learning what plants need to be healthy, and a new endeavor such as entoscaping will provide fresh challenges.

In my view, humans all too often see ourselves as separate from nature, which leads us to relegate biodiversity to designated parks. In fact, however, we are an important part of the natural world, andwe need insectsjust as much as they need us. As ecologistDouglas Tallamyargues in his book, Natures Best Hope, the best way to protect biodiversity is for people to plant native plants and promote conservation in every yard.

This story originally appeared inThe Conversation, and is reprinted here with permission.

Sign up to receive email updates from YES!

Read more:
How (and Why) to Welcome Insects Into Your Yard - YES! Magazine

OBSERVER Photo by Valory S. IsaacsonChautauqua Lake/Westfield/Broctons Luke Waters (12) finds the end zone as Cassadaga Valley/Falconers Karsen Depasquale attempts to make the tackle Saturday night

FALCONER With high school football returning to the gridiron for an unusual springtime start, teams were forced to prepare on a much shorter schedule than normal.

And in Saturdays game between Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton and Cassadaga Valley/Falconers readiness proved to be one of the defining factors.

The Thunderbirds were able to power by the Golden Cougars at Bill Race Field on Saturday night, 26-14. CL/W/B scored all of its points in the first half after falling behind 8-0 and used its edge in the turnover battle to force short fields for quick scores.

We didnt do a really good job during this short season, said Golden Cougars coach Dan Greco. They did better than us with the short preparation.

The game started off well for the Golden Cougars. After forcing a turnover on downs on the Thunderbirds opening drive, Cassadaga Valley/Falconer needed just six plays to find the end zone as quarterback Dalton Caldwell found Landon Mower for a 24-yard touchdown pass on third-and-15. The two-point conversion was punched in by running back Noah Abram, and the Golden Cougars found themselves in front, 8-0 with just under eight minutes to go in the first quarter.

The Thunderbirds drove to the Cassadaga Valley/Falconer 7-yard line and went for it on a fourth-and-4, but were stopped. Everything appeared to be going in the Golden Cougars favor.

But the turning point would quickly follow.

After three straight incompletions from Caldwell, the Golden Cougars were forced to punt on fourth and 10 at their own 20. They attempted a quick punt that was not executed well enough, and the TBirds came up with a huge block, setting themselves up at 5-yard line. CL/W/B made quick work, as Luke Ormsby scored on the very next play, followed by quarterback Luke Waters hitting Ricky Syper on a two-point conversion to tie the game, 8-8, with two minutes to go in the first. That blocked punt, according to Greco, was the turning point of the game.

The kick down here turned it around, Greco said. We wanted to quick-kick it, but it got blocked. That really changed momentum and got them excited.

On the ensuing kickoff, the Golden Cougars couldnt corral it, and the Thunderbirds got another possession with a very short field, and Ormsby scored his second touchdown in the opening minutes of the second quarter, putting CL/W/B up 14-6.

The Golden Cougars punted away the ball on their next possession, and it looked like the Thunderbirds had another quick score on a deep pass from Waters, but the play was called back due to a penalty. A few plays later, after a 59-yard hookup from Waters to Gavin Sauerland, it looked like momentum would switch back to F/CV, as Ormsby put the ball on the ground at the Golden Cougar 22-yard line.

But on the very next play, the Golden Cougars handed the ball right back with a fumble of their own. With just a brief interruption for the Thunderbirds offense, who got to pick back up effectively where they left off, Waters scored on a 2-yard carry to extend the lead to 20-6.

History would almost repeat itself on the next Thunderbirds possession.

Following another Golden Cougar punt, CL/W/B would turn the ball over on downs at the Golden Cougars 37-yard line. This gave CV/F a chance to cut back into the lead right before halftime, but Caldwell threw an interception on the next snap, giving CL/W/B the ball back right at the 37.

We talk about it all the time, said Thunderbirds coach Ryan Gibbs. We cant let stuff snowball. When we make a mistake, we have to turn it up on the very next play. Im proud of the defense for getting the ball back.

The Thunderbirds would score in one play, as Waters connected with Sauerland again, to extend the Thunderbirds lead to 26-8 heading into halftime. The only touchdown in the second half came very late in the fourth quarter, as Abram found the end zone for the Golden Cougars to cut the score to its eventual final of 26-14.

Ormsby and Waters each showed up big for the Thunderbirds. Waters was 11 of 24 passing for 141 yards, while rushing and throwing for a touchdown. Ormsby had 21 carries for 94 yards rushing and two scores.

Luke Waters didnt play football last year, Gibbs said, but we talked him into coming out. Hes our leader, without question, and he played a great game. And Ormsby had some good, tough carries, and played tough on defense, too.

For the Golden Cougars, Caldwell went just 3/10 passing for 44 yards, throwing a touchdown and an interception, while Abram ended up with 15 carries for 61 yards and a touchdown.

Were going to work, Greco said. Were not packing it in. Its just one game, and well go to work next week and fix what we can.

The win for Gibbs was his first at the helm of the program, and he was treated with a Gatorade bath from his players following the game.

I have a lot of respect for that team tonight and Dan Greco, Gibbs said. Its pretty special to me. Im going to enjoy myself for a bit.

He doesnt have much time to relax, however, as his team is next in action against Clymer/Sherman/Panama next week. Meanwhile, the Golden Cougars also have a tough task, as the Fredonia Hillbillies will pay them a visit. Greco knows that if Fredonia quarterback Nick Whitfield is good to go, his team will need to tighten up its pass defense.

If their quarterback is ready, I hear great things about him, Greco said. We will have to play a whole lot better than we did tonight in coverage.

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

See the original post:
T'Birds present Coach Gibbs with his first win in debut - Evening Observer

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 14: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees gives a fan a baseball while warming up in the eighth inning for the first time after being activated from the disable list earlier in the day against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on September 14, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

Lost in the New York Yankees embarrassing Opening Day performance against the Toronto Blue Jays was the moment in which a fan tried to steal from Aaron Judges glove.

Judge caught the final out of the top of the ninth inning in foul territory near the seats along the right field line and was met by a number of fans who were enjoying Opening Day (at the moment).

One fan was having such a good time (perhaps a few pints deep?) that he thought itd be a good idea to attempt to swipe the baseball from Aaron Judges glove. Guess thats what happens when youre stuck in the house for a year and start warping your own brain.

Luckily, Judge gave the guy a pass.

The big man himself knows how difficult it was for fans being unable to attend games since the 2019 postseason and the bottled up excitement that came with it. What else did we expect from Judge, whos always so calculated with his responses.

Judge himself had a rough day, so he was likely just treating others the way he wanted to be treated. The slugger went 1-for-5 with two strikeouts and failed to bring home a run in both the seventh and ninth innings with runners in scoring position (one was a BRUTAL GIDP).

Yankees fans would rather not get into it, but he also took a ton of strikes and allowed the Blue Jays pitchers to either get ahead in the count or rebound after falling behind. Not very Judge-like.

But dont say he didnt try to hook up the spectators at Yankee Stadium on Thursday. He tossed a foul ball to a spectator and this guy completely beefed it.

All around, it was a bad day for the Yankees and their fans. Forgettable performances by all parties. Fans acting a fool, the players simply not doing their jobs, and a loss on Opening Day to kick of a 2021 season that has sky-high hopes.

Maybe on Saturday we can get some more hits and fewer nimrod fans? Thatd sure make everyone feel better.

Visit link:
Yankees: Aaron Judge comments on fan who tried to steal ball from his glove - Yanks Go Yard

Some stories deserve to be told for the sheer grit and determination that a person has shown while battling societal expectations and mockery. One such inspiring tale is of Vanshika Abrol, a second year student of Keshav Mahavidyalaya, Delhi University (DU), who transformed her life by losing around 22 kilos since the starting of lockdown last year!

Abrols journey to a healthy lifestyle is full of body positivity, self love and inspiration. Today, as her peers, who once taunted her, reach out to her for #WorkOutTips, she says, I have over 6,000 comments on my Insta video, asking me how I did it. My Instagram DMs are flooded with queries. I have responded to more than 100 people already, I guess, and still have a lot of pending requests. People are still reaching out to me, to get tips that they can include in their routine, too.

Today an influence who is motivating many youngsters to lead a healthy lifestyle, this Delhi girls journey is something that will bring you too to agree to the adage: Nothing is impossible. I am 20 years old, and have been overweight for almost 12 years of my life. At my heaviest, I weighed 118 kgs! I have tried to lose weight many a times, and in fact I did reduce a few kilos, but each time I ended in giving up somewhere in between. Its not that easy after all... During the lockdown, when I gained back a few kilos, I became much frustrated with my lifestyle. Then one day, I saw a friend of mine posting videos of work out. Something got into me that moment, and I decided to start working out, too!

Surrounded by a sea of diet recommendations and lifestyle changes, it was hard to decide what works and what doesnt. What worked for Abrol? Keto diet, Paleo diet or any other diet actually works only when you are in a caloric deficit. I tried intermittent fasting too, but I had really low energy levels during that period. What really worked was being in a caloric deficit. I ate whatever I wanted to, but in moderation.

Its been around 10 months now, since that day and Ive been working out and eating a good diet consistently, shares Abrol and adds proudly, Thats how I lost 22 kgs!

Being an over weight person isnt easy, and same was the case with Abrol, who had to face a lot of hurt and taunts and that took a toll on her confidence. Ive been mocked at by people including my friends. It just might be a joke to them, but to me it was something that shook my confidence. I always tried to not let my weight affect any of the things I do in life, but it somehow just ended up coming in my way. With time, even I accepted that the society is going to judge you no matter what. So I just stopped worrying about what people said or thought about me, she adds.

Now, as she beams like an ambassador of body positivity, and addresses queries of brands who are approaching her to model for them, Abrol says, Body positivity for me is to love yourself the way you are. I have had stretch marks all over my body for a better part of my life, and now, after losing 22 kgs, I have been left with a lot of loose skin. But, I dont let any of these things affect me because I love the way I am... And you dont have to fit into societys perception of what an ideal body should look like. You are amazing the way you are. Theres no need to lose weight to be body positive. On the contrary, I believe that one should lose weight to live a healthy life and be free of ailments and not because the society expects you to! Loving myself means acceptance to me. To be able to love yourself, you need to fully accept yourself the way you are!

And what advice does Abrol have for anyone aiming to have a fitter physique? To lose weight, one needs to have patience. Dont try to lose weight quickly. You might just end up gaining all of it back. Just try and find an eating pattern and a physical activity that you can stick to for the rest of your life. Losing weight is not a one time thing, its a lifestyle change, she says, adding, Dont worry if you go off track on some days. Just bounce back on track as soon as you can. Consistency over perfection is what works because consistency is the key, concludes Abrol while tapping in to her gram to answer the hundreds of questions from her enthusiastic followers who have been awestruck by her journey to attain a fitter body.

For more stories follow Facebook and Twitter

Read the original here:
DU student sheds weight, inspires peers to be body positive - Hindustan Times

Back in the summer of 2019, when joking about omens of the apocalypse still seemed fresh and fun, an endless swarm of grasshoppers descended on the Las Vegas Strip.

These insects were not biters or crop killers. But for weeks, every evening after sunset, their flapping wings filled the Sky Beam shining up from the pyramid of the Luxor casino, and their dead exoskeletons littered the sidewalks. The news media speculated that the outbreak could be attributed to a wet winter that allowed more eggs to hatch, and to the citys artificial lights, which lured in grasshoppers like moths to flame.

A new analysis substantiates the link to the citys lights with worrying implications for the grasshoppers. Elske Tielens, an insect ecologist at the University of Oklahoma, found that on July 26, 2019, the peak night of the invasion, some 46 million grasshoppers took wing and then clustered over the brightest parts of the city.

Its really hard to wrap your mind around that volume, she said. Were getting more grasshoppers in the air on a single day than you get humans coming to Vegas to gamble across an entire year.

Visitors, of course, already knew Las Vegas cranked up its wattage at night. But some of that glow escapes straight up into space, where satellites measure it as the brightest city on the planet by a wide margin. The rest of that light, overflowing up into the atmosphere, forms a glowing dome that the U.S. National Park Service recently measured from 200 miles away, at the Great Basin National Park in Nevada.

Insect ecologists, for their part, have spent years studying how individual lamps and nighttime traps can be a silent siren call for insects, tempting them to their deaths. But Dr. Tielens and her colleagues, inspired by coverage of the 2019 Vegas grasshopper invasion, saw an opportunity to hunt for a wider pattern. They found that the roving clouds of grasshoppers had also been visible in weather radar data. Then they overlaid those radar movement patterns with separate maps of the citys vegetation and its nighttime lighting.

Their study, published Tuesday in Biology Letters, suggested a daily commute. Before dusk, the grasshoppers began spread out over a wide area, gathered near vegetation. But as daylight faded they took to the skies. Then they clustered up to dozens of miles away, traveling not just toward individual bright points, as previous research has documented, but toward the glowiest regions of the Vegas sky.

This is a really exciting paper, said Brett Seymoure, an ecologist at Washington University in St. Louis who didnt participate in the research. We really dont have evidence until right now, with this paper, that the light dome is guiding insects.

Insect ecologists were already worried that different insect populations were declining around the world, perhaps because of pesticide use, habitat loss, pollution, climate change and artificial light at night. Dr. Tielenss study, she says, does not estimate how many grasshoppers died, or how the nightly trip into the heart of Vegas might influence the next generation of grasshoppers. But it does show that artificial lighting can influence insects on a regional scale, and that on July 26, 2019, the citys shimmer summoned 30 metric tons of crunchy, airborne biomass that might otherwise have been spread out across a much larger ecosystem.

Its scary from an ecological perspective, Dr. Seymoure said. Its also probably pretty terrifying for a lot of people in Las Vegas, to have all of these grasshoppers swarming around. Although I think that would be pretty cool to see.

Read more here:
New Study Sheds Light on Why Grasshoppers Flocked to Vegas - The New York Times

While Covid-19 ravaged the broader American economy, the largest U.S. employers added more jobs than they cut.

Overall, global employment rose by about 370,000 people among the 286 members of the S&P 500 that filed annual reports between July 1 and March 31, a Wall Street Journal analysis of securities filings shows.

Those gains masked wrenching changes and job losses for workers in many companies and industries. And the net gain in jobs for 2020 wouldnt have happened without a single company: Amazon . com Inc.

The giant internet retailer added 500,000 workers around the world during the yearmore than 400,000 of them in the U.S. Amazon created nearly as many jobs last year as the 136 other companies in the Journal analysis that added workers.

By hiring that many people, we were not only able to deliver essential items for our customers during a critical time, but also provide an opportunity to those who lost their jobs or saw their hours cut because of Covid, said Beth Galetti, Amazons senior vice president for human resources. Amazon became an employment beacon for hundreds of American communities. Workers at an Amazon warehouse in Alabama are voting on whether to unionize.

Read the rest here:
Tesla, Facebook, FedEx Hired Through the Pandemic as GE, Marriott, Others Shed Jobs - The Wall Street Journal

In seven more games, the Stars and general manager Jim Nill will know where they stand at the April 12 trade deadline, whether they will be adding for a playoff push or subtracting to reset next season.

Either way, it doesnt seem like the teams goaltending will be on the move.

Thats going to be more of a summer situation, Nill said Wednesday morning. Well monitor that as we go forward. I wouldnt say that goaltending is something were thinking were going to do something at the deadline right now.

The Stars crease could become crowded in the last month of the regular season, with Ben Bishop returning from offseason knee surgery to join Anton Khudobin and rookie Jake Oettinger. Bishop has begun skating again, but a firm timeline for his return isnt set.

Now hes got to get into the goaltending position, theres a lot of up and down and real quick reactions, Nill said. Thats the next process hes got to go through. Is he two weeks, three weeks, four weeks away? I dont know. Were just going to monitor that and see how it goes.

Oettinger, meanwhile, has proved capable during his first NHL season, posting a .909 save percentage and 2.34 goals against average across 17 games. At one point this year, he started four straight games, and seemed to move past Khudobin on the depth chart.

His quick development is a huge positive for the Stars in the long term. While his first season hasnt been perfect (rebounds have been too loose at times, and extra time has been a struggle), Oettinger is ahead of schedule for where the Stars thought he would be.

Hes come in and done a great job, Nill said. I think hes grabbed the situation of being at this level, understanding what it takes. The work ethic is there, hes had a chance to work with [coach] Jeff Reese on goaltending. Hes worked with Ben Bishop and Dobby, theyve helped him along. I think hes done a great job.

In the short term, Oettingers play will force the Stars to do some juggling in net.

When Bishop comes back, he will be the No. 1 goaltender. Khudobin and Oettinger have been serviceable, but will not be starting over a Vezina-caliber goaltender, even one coming off knee surgery. The Stars could rotate three goalies, opting to play Oettinger every now and then rather than have him sit on the taxi squad or play in the AHL.

We have plans in place, but those change every day, either because of the injuries or COVID results, Nill said. You never know. Well monitor that as we go. Put it this way: Itd be a good problem to have if youve got all three guys back.

Khudobins future is the murkiest.

He will be exposed in this summers expansion draft, as Bishop has a no movement clause and Oettinger is not eligible. Even with the down year this season, Khudobin may be the most attractive piece for the Kraken to take (unless theyre already set at goaltender with Brayden Holtby or Jake Allen or Antti Raanta). It would be nice for Seattle to take Khudobin off the Stars hands, clearing a path for Oettinger and removing the final two years of his $3.333 million cap hit.

But the Stars cant rely on Seattle doing that, especially if they decide to poach a forward like Jason Dickinson or Joe Pavelski from the Stars. So might the Stars want to trade Khudobin instead? Plenty of teams need goaltending, but the complicating factors of the pandemic (league protocols regarding travel plus financial restrictions from owners) and the expansion draft could make it tough for Dallas to find a trading partner in a couple weeks.

Nill said the current six-game road trip through Nashville, Carolina and Chicago will dictate which direction the team wants to go at the trade deadline, whether buying or selling.

When we come out of this trip, itll be close to the deadline on April 12th and well know where were sitting pretty well by then, Nill said. The games are going by fast, were playing every second day, so well have a good feel of where our teams at. And then also, over this next week, 10 days, have a good feel of where the leagues at.

The Stars have options if they choose to become sellers. Jamie Oleksiak, Blake Comeau and Andrew Cogliano are on expiring contracts. Esa Lindells no movement clause kicks in next season. John Klingberg is the teams most attractive trade chip.

While shipping out rentals at the trade deadline is often the least messy move, Nill said his options arent limited to small deals.

You never know, is there going to be a hockey trade that makes sense for both teams? Nill said. Were open to anything, and I think thats what teams are trying to figure out right now.

+++

Find more Stars coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.

Go here to see the original:
As Ben Bishop nears a return, Stars GM Jim Nill sheds light on the future of Dallas' goalie situation - The Dallas Morning News