Test setup

Here atBelow the Line, weve been covering the COVID-19 pandemic and how its affected production for the past year. More importantly, weve been focusing our attention on howshows are discovering new ways to keepthe camera rolling while also keeping everyone safe.

With that in mind, heres another example of necessity being the mother of invention as production house Monkey Deux, led byAlan Griswold,had to figure out a way to make a second season ofOur Star Wars Stories, a digital series forLucasfilm andStarWars.com,without some of the luxuries it had for the first eight episodes, including a full production team. The general principle ofOur Star Wars Stories is that hostJordan Hembrough talks with real-lifeStar Warsfans about the inspiring tales that connected them to the sci-fi franchise, including a full production crew.

Below, you can learn how Griswold and his team put together a DIY kit for the interview subjects to light and film themselves for the series.

Priorities for a new workflow

Griswolds goal shifted to developing a new remote workflow and putting together 5 production kits, each in a single case weighing 32 pounds. One would go to Hembrough in New Jersey, who is also a producer and lines up many of the subjects for the stories. The other 4 would go out to the various interviewees who would each have to set up their own gear, soup to nuts: position the camera, lighting, and telecommunicate with Griswold and the rest of the team. Fortunately, Griswold had plenty of remote shooting resourcefulness to make up for the lack of in-person crew.

Lighting was a good place to start. A self-professed gearhead, Griswold has been using BB&S Area 48 LED softlight for years and experienced the color accuracy of the Remote Phosphor design. I had worked with the lights before and knew that since there would be lots of other variables knowing that I could trust the color of their output was a good start for me, Griswold explains, The key is the most important thing. If you know that the key is an exact color you can build the rest around that. You dont want your person to go green or pink.

This time size mattered. Toby Sali at BB&Sencouraged him to try out their remote phosphor Pipeline Reporters and Griswolds problem was solved. He chose 2 each of the 1 Reporters per kit, on desktop stands. With an inline dimmer, they would keep it neat and simple to adjust while looking cooler than most practicals that find their way into frame. Best of all, Griswold knew there would be no spikes, or green glowhe could count on the 97 TLC for color rendering. He also added Pipeline Free versions without stands to go to the hosts home studio.

His criterion was that someone who didnt know much about cameras or lighting could set it up. It was a juggle between whats best, compared to whats simple, he adds. He came up with a simple yet dynamic 2-camera position setup, one wide and one close. He would get on a Zoom and explain how to set it up complete with cables and lighting, test it, and eventually how to pack up into the case and ship back to him.

What was in the Kit?

Packed kit

The participants would receive a snugly packed kit that had been fully sanitized at the Monkey Deux office. The first item they would pull out was a MacBook Pro laptop, preprogrammed with TeamViewer. That would get them online with step-by-step instructions led by Griswold. Next was the Canon EOS R camera that would always be set at face detect autofocus to avoid complications. Ditto with the Sigma 24mm prime lens. Before going remote, I usually use cine prime lenses, but primes were even more important on this project, says Griswold, It cuts out the variables and the setups were at their desktops, so a prime made sense.

The second camera was an iPhone on a travel tripod that worked out fine for the over-the-shoulder shot of the interviewees. Griswold did the settings from his office. They recorded to Atomos Ninja due to its capacity to record in a 10-bit color space.

Regarding the lighting, Griswold says, With their simplicity, size and color reliability the Reporter lights really helped me reduce the number of variables. What you see remotely is not super accurate. You need to trust and you need dimmers. With the Reporter it was easy to say: take the light on the right up and dim the left down. They are fun lights and look cool. When you are dealing with people who dont do it for a living, the cool factor counts, and Im officially over ring lights.

Set up and GoSet up took between 1 and 2 hours each. Griswold says he helped set up in my office with the subjects watching and setting up remotely. John Harper, Lucasfilm producer overseeing production, would also weigh from his desk in northern California to tweak the lighting or the shot composition. I have a whole new respect for people who do tech support, adds Griswold.

The following day they would do final adjustments and the actual interview. It was a busy time with a lot to monitor with the two remote cameras being operated simultaneously. During the interviews the Lucasfilm editor, Frank Knight, as well as producers Matt Martin, Dan Brooks, and Executive Producer Mickey Capoferri joined the Zoom and weighed in. Everyone was an integral part of the process.

Thankfully the participants were so excited about telling their stories that they enthusiastically participated. My job was to make them look good and feel they are in good hands. One of the most rewarding parts was when we finished the setup and folks could see themselves well lit. The fact that they did it gave them a sense of accomplishment. They were grateful to have been selected to be a part of the series. I think we all had a good feeling of satisfaction, concludes Griswold.

You can watch Our Star Wars Stories at StarWars.com.

More:
Our Star Wars Stories has to Find New Way to Keep Cameras Rolling - Below the Line

Looking outside at another cloudy sky, on another dreary winter day in the Midwest?

Experts say it makes sense that a lack of sunshine leaves us grumpy and tired.

The antidepressant properties of sunlight have been known since antiquity, says Leslie Swanson, Ph.D., associate professor of psychiatry at Michigan Medicine and an expert in behavioral sleep medicine at the Michigan Medicine Sleep Disorders Centers. Morning bright light is an effective antidepressant for both seasonal affective disorder and non-seasonal depression.

Swanson says bright light increases mood-positive neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, in the parts of the brain that regulate mood. And you can reap those benefits using a light therapy box in your own home, if a sunny morning walk or commute to work isnt feasible.

And you may find yourself sleeping better, too. Swanson says morning bright light can resynchronize your internal clock and realign your circadian rhythms with your sleep-wake patterns, which improves sleep and increases alertness.

While anyone can find a boost from light therapy, Swanson notes it can be most powerful for people struggling with seasonal affective disorder or depression, along with those wanting to sleep better.

MORE FROM MICHIGAN: Sign up for our weekly newsletter

People who live further from the equator say, for example, in the Mitten State can be more vulnerable to seasonal affective disorder during dramatic seasonal reductions in light exposure, Swanson says.

She adds that people with eye conditions, people who use a medication that increases light sensitivity, people who have a medical condition like lupus that can impact light sensitivity, or those who have a history of bipolar disorder shouldnt try light therapy on their own talk to your physician first.

Swanson has her patients start by sitting in front of a light therapy box for half an hour each day, as soon as possible after waking up.

Make sure whatever device you choose filters out ultraviolet light, which can damage eyes and skin, she says.

See the rest here:
Seeing the Light of an Improved Mood - Michigan Medicine

Today Epic revealed the latest crossover for its battle royale hit, which brings the retrofuturistic world of Tron into the game.

There are ten different Tron-themed skins available in the in-game store right now, and each has a removable helmet. You can also get a Light Cycle glider and an Identity Disc pickaxe. Its not yet clear whether youll be able to throw it.

Welcome to the Grid.

Gear up as Grid Warriors and fight for the users! Tron Outfits are in the Shop now.

More info: https://t.co/brB6ItQaeH pic.twitter.com/XwXFIbh0Il

This season of Fortnite has been particularly busy when it comes to licensed crossovers. The season debuted with the inclusion of The Mandalorian and Baby Yoda, who have since been joined by Kratos, Master Chief, the Predator, and G.I. Joes Snake Eyes. Theres also been a new skin based on Spanish streamer TheGrefg, and a line of soccer skins based on real-world teams. This followed a season that was entirely Marvel-themed.

Truly, no brand is safe.

See the article here:
Tron invades Fortnite with Light Cycles and new skins - The Verge

We hope your favorite color is blue because youll be seeing a lot of it from nearly every room in this bayfront home.

Perched on .62 acres, this weeks dream home is located in the private neighborhood of Cedar Beach in Southold. It contains four bedrooms, four bathrooms, and a layout intended for privacy, comfort, and serenity.

1 || 3

The home spans two wings, each with bedrooms and entertaining spaces. The center of the home features an updated kitchen, formal dining, a living room with a fireplace, and a sunroom, all with magnificent waterviews, said listing agent Jeanmarie Bay of Town & Country Real Estate.

The second floor of the west wing includes a guest ensuite with chic finishings in the bath that includes a bay view jacuzzi, as well as two additional bedrooms and a full updated guest bath. On the east side of the house, a private master wing begins with a separate entrance, a living room with a fireplace, and a wet bar. The second floor of the east wing includes a master ensuite with a private waterview terrace and an updated full bath, Bay added.

1 || 2

The home, which faces south and overlooks the Peconic Bay, also features a spacious deck, a new bulkhead, and private association beach rights.

Youll easily feel on vacation in this home. With the bay right outside your back door, there is no easier way to get out onto the water or lounge seaside with a cocktail and a book in hand. Youll be relaxing in no time at all.

1 || 3

It is listed at $2,385,000.

See the complete listing here.

See the rest here:
North Fork Dream Home: Southold waterfront home with soothing views and tons of natural light - Northforker

This qualitative and quantitative analysis will contain key product offerings, crucial differentiators, revenue share, market size, market status, and strategies of top leading players. The report will additionally cover key agreements, associations, and global partnerships soon to change the dynamics of the market on a global scale.

Get Business Insights Research Sample Copy of This Report @https://www.worldwidemarketreports.com/sample/461080

The research report included companyCompetitors top sellersprofiles, According to this study, over the next five years, the LED Indoor Lighting market will register an xx% CAGR in terms of revenue. Some are the key players taken under coverage for this Research study are: Philips, Osram, Cree, GE Lighting, MaxLite, Hugewin, Gemcore, Westinghouse, DECO Lighting, XtraLight, RAB Lighting, Havells Sylvania, Toshiba, Acuity Brands, Emerson Electric, LSI, Bravoled, Hubbell Lighting, Ligman Lighting, Others

Competitive Analysis:The key players are extremely focusing innovation in production to enhance efficiency and shelf life. The best long-term development opportunities for this LED Indoor Lighting sector can be grabbed by ensuring ongoing process enhancements and financial flexibility to invest in the excellent tactics.

This report additionally covers the effect of COVID-19 on the worldwide market. The pandemic brought about by Coronavirus (COVID-19) has influenced each part of life all inclusive, including the business segment. This has brought along a several changes in economic situations.

Our analysts monitoring the situation across the globe explains that the market will generate remunerative prospects for producers post COVID-19 crisis. The report aims to provide an additional illustration of the latest scenario, economic slowdown, and COVID-19 impact on the overall industry.

If you are investor/shareholder in theLED Indoor LightingMarket, the provided study will help you to understand the growth model ofLED Indoor LightingIndustry after impact of COVID-19. Request for sample report (including ToC, Tables and Figures with detailed information)(Given in Sample Copy of Covid-19 Impact Analysis in PDF Format)@https://www.worldwidemarketreports.com/covidimpact/461080

Business Strategies

Key strategies in the global LED Indoor Lighting market like product developments, partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, etc., analysed in this report. The worth of strategic analysis has been rigorously investigated in conjunction with undisputed market challenges. The LED Indoor Lighting market report delivers conclusion that includes breakdown and data triangulation, consumer needs/customer preference change, research findings, market size estimation, data source. These factors will increase the business overall.

Why should you invest in LED Indoor Lighting Business?

If you are aiming to enter the LED Indoor Lighting business, this report is a comprehensive guide that provides crystal clear insights into this niche market. All the major application areas for LED Indoor Lighting are covered in this report and information is given on the important regions of the world where this market is likely to boom during the upcoming years, so that you can plan your strategies to enter this market accordingly. Besides, through this report, you can have a complete grasp of the level of competition you will be facing in this hugely competitive market and if you are an established player in this market already, this report will help you gauge the strategies that your competitors have adopted to stay as business leaders in this market. For new entrants to this market, the voluminous data provided in this report is invaluable.

Table of Content (TOC)

Regional Analysis for LED Indoor Lighting Market:

In conclusion,the LED Indoor Lighting Market report is a reliable source for accessing the research data that is projected to exponentially accelerate your business. The report provides information such as economic scenarios, benefits, limits, trends, market growth rates, and figures. SWOT analysis is also incorporated in the report along with speculation attainability investigation and venture return investigation.

Talk to our Industry Expert for any quiry and customization@https://www.worldwidemarketreports.com/quiry/461080

Contact Us:

Mr. ShahWorldwide Market ReportsSeattle, WA 98154, U.S.Email:sales@worldwidemarketreports.com

Continue reading here:
LED Indoor Lighting Market Analysis -Worldwide Opportunities, Revenue, Production, Demand and Geographical Forecast | Philips, Osram, Cree KSU | The...

Chicago will join the rest of Illinois by advancing to the next phase of the states COVID-19 vaccination program on Monday, which will include residents age 65 or older and front-line essential workers, including teachers, the city said Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Chicago Teachers Unions governing body is expected to convene Wednesday and could send a vote to members as soon as Thursday to strike or take other collective action as early as next week, several sources told the Tribune.

Heres whats happening Tuesday with COVID-19 in the Chicago area and Illinois:

7 p.m.: IHSA approves plan for winter sports to begin, allows contact days for fall, spring and summer sports

Winter sports will be on their way.

By an email vote, the Illinois High School Association board approved a plan Tuesday that allows winter sports, with the exception of boys and girls basketball, to be played seven practice days after the first practice.

Badminton, boys swimming, boys and girls bowling, and girls gymnastics are all lower-risk sports.

The acclimation period was developed by the IHSAs sports medicine advisory committee.

The Illinois Department of Public Health moved Chicago and most of the suburbs Monday into Tier 2, which allows competition.

Will and Kankakee counties, however, are still in Tier 3. That means high schools like Lincoln-Way East, Lincoln-Way Central, Lincoln-Way West, Lockport, Lemont, Providence and Joliet Catholic will not be able to practice or compete until reaching the next level.

The IHSA also approved contact days for all fall, spring and summer sports, beginning Jan. 25.

6 p.m. (update): Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum announce plans to reopen as COVID restrictions loosen

Shedd Aquarium Tuesday became the first major cultural institution to announce reopening plans following the states determination Monday that Chicago is now in improved Tier 2 COVID mitigation status.

The Shedd news was followed by the Field Museum revealing its plans to reopen even sooner, by the end of this week.

The lakefront aquarium, which in November closed down for a second time due to the pandemic, said it will allow the public back in on Saturday, Jan. 30. Members will be allowed in first, Jan. 27-29, with additional members-only hours available on the 31st.

Its Museum Campus neighbor the Field said it will open to members Thursday and Friday and then to the general public on Saturday, with next Monday and Thursday being free to Illinois residents.

Other museums are expected to follow suit. The areas two major zoos, Brookfield and Lincoln Park, are closed for the first two months of the year as a cost-saving and safety measure.

5:20 p.m.: Drive-through indoor facility opens at Lake County Fairgrounds for faster vaccinations

Conditions were good for Deputy Lake County Coroner Kiersten Reif when she received her first dose of COVID-19 vaccine on Dec. 28 at the Lake County Health Departments drive-through site at its Waukegan offices.

But, Reif liked the circumstances much more when she received her second dose Tuesday at the departments new drive-through indoor facility at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Grayslake.

It was a lot nicer, and less congested, Reif said. They were able to do a lot more at the same time.

It was a lot better this time, added Sgt. Steve Carroll of the coroners office, who also received his second dose.

The health department opened its expanded facility at the fairgrounds Tuesday utilizing the buildings garage doors to allow patients to pull into the building, receive their shot and drive out in five minutes, with a goal of doubling overall vaccination capacity.

Mark Pfister, the health departments executive director, said the fairgrounds large main building has the room to accommodate multiple lines of vehicles, and indoor lighting enables longer hours. Indoor working conditions make it easier for staff to prepare and administer the doses.

Once a person is in line, they should get their shot in five minutes, Pfister said. This is for people who are eligible and registered in our system. We can do more (now), but we must have the vaccine in our system.

5 p.m.: IRS investigating hundreds of COVID-19 scams, warns Illinois taxpayers

As the second round of pandemic relief checks go out to millions of Americans, the Internal Revenue Services criminal investigation division warned Illinois taxpayers Tuesday that it was looking into hundreds of COVID-19-related scams across the country and abroad.

Criminals will look for any opportunity to take what they are not entitled to and this is no exception, said Acting Special Agent in Charge Tamera Cantu, of the IRS Chicago field office, in a news release.

This payment is meant to help those that are struggling to get by as a result of the economic downturn caused by the pandemic, said Cantu. Be wary of any phone calls, emails, or text messages asking for your personal information or offering a deal that seems too good to be true.

The IRS highlighted several COVID-19 scams, including fabricated text messages requiring bank account information to receive a stimulus check, fake test kits, cures and vaccines, fraudulent donation requests and calls to invest in companies supposedly developing vaccines.

The agency notes online that it does not demand payment without the chance to appeal, ask for account information over the phone or via text, threaten lawsuits, jail time or deportation for nonpayment or ask people to pay in gift cards.

The IRS Chicago field office did not have further data on the scams affecting Illinois residents specifically, a spokesperson said.

Taxpayers can report suspected scams to the National Center for Disaster Fraudsphone hotline, 1-866-720-5721 or through its online complaint form.

4:10 p.m.: Illinois school districts get $2 billion in latest COVID-19 federal relief package

Illinois public schools have been awarded $2.2 billion in COVID-19 relief funding more than four times the federal dollars the state received in the first round of pandemic aid for schools last spring, state education officials said.

The U.S. Department of Educations preliminary allocations for the second round of COVID-19 relief money for Illinois schools through the second Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund arrives as president-elect Joe Biden is pledging to reopen a majority of schools across the U.S. during his first 100 days in office.

The infusion of federal dollars will be released to school districts in the form of grants for urgent needs, officials said, including COVID-19 safety protocol, mitigating learning loss during the pandemic, closing the digital divide, and addressing the mental health needs of students, officials said.

3:50 p.m.: Illinois launches four new COVID-19 vaccination sites in Cook County

Illinois residents began getting COVID-19 shots at four new mass vaccination sites in Cook County on Tuesday as the state readies for the next phase of immunizations.

Two of the sites are in the western suburbs, the North Riverside Health Center in North Riverside and Morton East Adolescent Health Center in Cicero; and two are in the south suburbs, Robbins Health Center in Robbins and Cottage Grove Health Center Ford Heights.

The four sites are being run with support from the Illinois National Guard and will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, Gov. J.B. Pritzkers office said Tuesday.

The sites are will be open to front line health care workers until Illinois officially moves into Phase 1b of its vaccination plan on Monday. That phase includes people 65 and older and front-line essential workers including public transit and grocery store employees, as well as teachers.

The Illinois Department of Public Health is also launching partnerships with large pharmacies to set up hundreds of new sites in communities across Illinois, according to Pritzkers office.

Pritzker called the sites a pivotal first step of a plan that coordinates our 97 local health departments statewide who operate clinics already and will open up more as vaccine supply grows, in a statement on Tuesday.

Illinois National Guard members are also deploying to other parts of the state to help set up new vaccination sites and expand existing ones.

Illinois began vaccinating front-line health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities against COVID-19 in mid-December.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle called the new vaccine sites critical in increasing our vaccination capabilities and protecting our communities from COVID-19, as we return to normalcy.

3:15 p.m.: Restaurants decry uneven playing field over owners who flout indoor dining ban

Even as a return to indoor dining in Illinois appears to be inching closer, restaurant owners particularly those who have been complying with state mandates are expressing growing resentment over what they describe as an uneven playing field.

The resentment is twofold: Restaurants that skirt or openly flout Illinois state rules and the number doing so is significant, restaurateurs claim are taking away business from compliant operations. Inconsistent or absent enforcement is enabling violators.

Indoor dining could resume as early as this week, according to Dr. Allison Arwady, Chicagos public health commissioner, who cited improved COVID-19 numbers, in predicting Tuesday that dining could be days away. Yet capacity would still be limited to 25%, giving restaurants flouting the rules an unfair advantage. In Chicago, 395 businesses, most of them restaurants and bars, have been cited for violating COVID-19 regulations since March.

No restaurateur will call out bad-faith competitors by name. Nobody wants to play police officer, and there is sympathy for those who are struggling to keep their businesses alive and their staffers employed. But there is concern that, by allowing indoor dining to customers eager to return to normal, rules-breaking restaurants may be adding to the surge in coronavirus cases, thus postponing the day when indoor dining can resume safely.

3:10 p.m.: Lightfoot calls on Chicagoans to take part in national memorial to remember COVID-19 victims on eve of Biden-Harris inauguration

Chicagos Democratic mayor is calling on Chicagoans to turn off their lights and other electronics Tuesday night, the eve of President-elect Joe Bidens inauguration, for 10 minutes in remembrance of victims of the deadly coronavirus pandemic.

The event, dubbed a National COVID-19 Memorial Service, is being organized by the incoming Biden administration and scheduled at 6 p.m.

The Willis Tower antenna, along with several other buildings in the downtown skyline, sit partially dark during a 10-minute citywide COVID-19 memorial service on Jan. 19, 2021, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

Chicago residents as well as businesses owners can participate by turning off their lights and electronics, step outside their home or workplace, and light a candle and offer a moment of silence for those who have died from the virus.

Following 10 minutes of reflection, everyone will turn the lights back on at 6:10 p.m. CST to symbolize moving from darkness to light, the mayors office said in a statement last week.

Among those who have said theyre participating: the Building Owners and Managers Association of Chicago (BOMA/Chicago) an association of 240 downtown buildings and Wrigley Field. The mayors office set up an email for people to participate, covidmemorial@cityofchicago.org, as well as a social media hashtag, #brightertogether.

Lightfoot is not attending the Biden inauguration, her staff said.

2:10 p.m.: American COVID-19 deaths pass 400,000, with death rate accelerating, on final full day of Trumps term

As President Donald Trump entered the final year of his term last January, the U.S. recorded its first confirmed case of COVID-19. Not to worry, Trump insisted, his administration had the virus totally under control.

Now, in his final hours in office, after a year of presidential denials of reality and responsibility, the pandemics U.S. death toll has eclipsed 400,000. And the loss of lives is accelerating.

This is just one step on an ominous path of fatalities, said Dr. Irwin Redlener, director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University and one of many public health experts who contend the Trump administrations handling of the crisis led to thousands of avoidable deaths.

Everything about how its been managed has been infused with incompetence and dishonesty, and were paying a heavy price, he said.

The 400,000-death toll, reported Tuesday by Johns Hopkins University, is greater than the population of New Orleans, Cleveland or Tampa, Florida. Its nearly equal to the number of American lives lost annually to strokes, Alzheimers disease, diabetes, flu and pneumonia combined.

With more than 4,000 deaths recorded on some recent days the most since the pandemic began the toll by weeks end will probably surpass the number of Americans killed in World War II.

1:55 p.m.: Downtown Dogs closing after more than 26 years due to pandemic

Downtown Dogs, the much-loved Chicago hot dog stand that first opened in 1994, plans to close by the end of the month. According to a message from the restaurant, the pandemic has caused us to lose our lease and permanently close our doors. The restaurant also noted that it was looted twice over the past year.

While finding a hot dog in Chicago isnt exactly a difficult task, Downtown Dogs location a block from the Chicago Water Tower, meant that it was a welcome reprieve from the crush of bag-toting tourists on the Magnificent Mile. Along with fully loaded hot dogs, the shop served a number of classic Chicago dishes, including Italian beefs and Polish sausages. In fact, we last visited for a pizza puff, that misunderstood Chicago classic.

You have until Jan. 30 to place your last order.

1:25 p.m.: Evanston, Skokie move forward with COVID-19 vaccination plans as thousands of doses already administered

Evanston and Skokie health officials hope to finish their first round of COVID-19 vaccinations this week as they look toward expanding distribution to include high-risk residents.

When that will ultimately happen, though, depends on if the state provides the needed vaccine doses to finish inoculating paramedics and hospital health care workers, said Greg Olsen, public health manager for the city of Evanstons Health and Human Services Department.

Once we have the vaccine in hand, its been very smooth, Olsen said.

However, local health officials dont know in advance how much vaccine they will receive each week, which makes it difficult to estimate when, exactly, this phase will wrap up and the next phase of inoculations will begin.

12:55 p.m.: CTU delegates could set a strike vote this week as impasse looms over schools reopening

The Chicago Teachers Unions governing body is expected to convene Wednesday and could send a vote to members as soon as Thursday to strike or take other collective action as early as next week, several sources told the Tribune.

With thousands more teachers due to report to work in person for the first time on Monday and the union still at an impasse with Chicago Public Schools leaders over a reopening plan theres urgency to the need to come to an agreement to reopen schools.

CPS CEO Janice Jackson Tuesday she wants an agreement but that it must involve how schools can reopen safely during the COVID-19 pandemic, not whether they will reopen.

12:22 p.m.: Elmwood Park schools reopen for first time since closing last March

Parents and children, standing in small clusters divided by household, greeted each other from six feet apart as they waited in line outside Elmwood Elementary School for the first day of hybrid learning Tuesday morning in Elmwood Park.

Elmwood Park School District 401 students have been taking online classes since Gov. J.B. Pritzker closed all schools throughout the state last March. On Tuesday, the youngest students, pre-K through second graders, and those in bilingual classes and special education returned to school for the first time since then. The rest of the students are scheduled to return Jan. 25.

12:10 p.m.: 4,318 new and probable cases of COVID-19, 33 additional deaths reported

Illinois announced Tuesday 4,318 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19, for a total of 1,076,532 statewide since the pandemic began. The state also announced 33 new deaths for a total of 18,291.

There were 71,533 tests reported and the seven-day statewide positivity rate is 6.9%.

On Monday, 13,169 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were administered, officials said, bringing the number administered statewide to 508,732.

12:05 p.m.: Chicago entering next phase of Illinois COVID-19 vaccine program Jan. 25, as officials predict indoor dining could resume within days

Chicago will join the rest of Illinois by advancing to the next phase of the states COVID-19 vaccination program on Monday, which will include residents age 65 or older and front-line essential workers, including teachers, the city said Tuesday.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot, meanwhile, said she hopes indoor dining soon will be allowed at restaurants across Chicago after Gov. J.B. Pritzker eased other COVID-19 restrictions on the city.

Citing improved COVID-19 numbers, Dr. Allison Arwady, Chicagos public health commissioner, predicted indoor dining could be days away.

Were still a few days, could be a week, away from this but if progress continues in the right way, I think it is likely that we may be able to move all the way to the Tier 1 mitigation, which is when we are able to reopen indoor dining, Arwady said during an online question-and-answer session. Were not there yet, but I want you to know that the way the numbers are heading, I am feeling very optimistic.

Arwady also announced on Tuesday that the citys vaccination plan for phase 1b, which includes Chicagoans 65 and older and front line essential workers, will formally begin Jan. 25. Those oldest and at highest risk will be prioritized.

A team of pharmacists from Walgreens arrived at Plymouth Place Senior Living in La Grange Park Saturday morning with the coronavirus vaccine. When they left more than seven hours later, between 550 and 560 people had been vaccinated with the Pfizer BioNTech drug.

It is exciting for them, and their families are thrilled, said Kate Curran, Plymouth Places senior director of communications. Our staff and residents have been through months and months of challenging times.

The complex, at 315 N. La Grange Road, offers a range of living accommodations, from independent living to skilled nursing care.

We have had no communal dining for awhile, Curran said. Since COVID-19 infection rates increased in the fall, the residents have been tested for the virus twice a week.

11:45 a.m.: Small nonprofits could get up to $25,000 in latest round of state grant program

Ten small Illinois nonprofits could win grants of up to $25,000 in the latest cycle of an Illinois grant program, State Treasurer Michael Frerichs announced Tuesday.

We are excited to kick off the new year with up to $250,000 available to small nonprofits, Frerichs said in a news release. We all are experiencing the impact of the pandemic and this funding will help valuable organizations continue their mission to feed, house, and employ those in need.

See the article here:
Coronavirus in Illinois updates: Heres what happened Jan. 19 with COVID-19 in the Chicago area - Chicago Tribune

Eeek!

Whats wrong? my husband asks coming from two rooms away and finding me in the dining room, where I had locked my eyes on the ceiling.

A huge tarantula is hanging over our table!

He rolls his eyes.

I am well aware you want new light fixtures, he drones, then goes back to his laptop.

And one over here! I point to the entryway, where a similar oversized, oil-rubbed bronze, Mediterranean-style fixture dangled from a heavy metal chain like something out of a medieval torture chamber. How have we lived with these?

Has anyone ever told you that you are prone to hyperbole?

I did not have time to look that up. We must act, I say.

To which he says nothing, which I take to mean go ahead.

In fairness to me, I had been saying for months, as we stayed at home staring at (and climbing) the walls, that next up on the home project hit parade was replacing the outdated light fixtures that came with (and weighed down) the house.

I do not blame the prior owners, who built the home in 2003. Back then, heavy, oil-rubbed bronze light fixtures were what you did. I built a home that same year in Colorado, and picked out almost the same light fixtures.

That was then.

The builder-owners of this house did what many builders do. They put in a default lighting package, a matching set of fixtures for the dining room, entryway, kitchen, hallways and bathrooms. So contrived you can imagine them all holding hands and singing Id Like to Teach the World to Sing(In Perfect Harmony) in smarmy unison.

However, the problem hanging over my head was this: Whenever I thought about updating them, I hit a snag, which I call the stocking problem. Replace one fixture, say the dining room chandelier, and that change trips a snag, which starts a run and soon the whole house is involved. You have to change the light in the entryway, then in the kitchen, then down the hall, and, and . and you freeze.

Because I had been around this mental racetrack a few times, and making any more than three design decisions at once causes my brain to jam, I called interior designer Tina Crossley. What I like about working with Crossley, who has helped me update my home dcor before, is she works with what you have. Not all designers are so benevolent.

Oil-rubbed bronze was popular for a long time, she says, looking around at the black spiders on my ceiling. It still works in Mediterranean- or Venetian-style homes, but not in your light, bright colonial.

So these need to go? I ask, which was all the affirmation I needed.

She nods.

Two weeks later, she comes back with pictures of fixture candidates. The options she proposes are transitional, a bridge between traditional and modern that fits my dcor. The candidates have cleaner lines and a lighter feel, and fit my homes architecture. The change cant happen soon enough.

Changing light fixtures is one of the simpler home improvements you can make to get a big difference, says Crossley, who offers these tips for those looking to pull the plug on dated or boring fixtures:

Avoid the matched set. Like a matching bedroom suite of furniture, light fixtures that come as a package are safe and do the job, but dont look custom. Fixtures shouldnt all match, but they should get along, especially if you can see them from one vantage point. Aim for fixtures that relate to each other in style and feel.

Dont fixate on finishes. People get stuck when they feel they need to match finishes. You can mix metals so long as the tones work together. For instance, we chose champagne gold fixtures for the dining room and entry, and polished nickel for the master bath.

Where to start. In most homes, the fixture in the dining room or the foyer makes the biggest statement. Find one you love that fits your homes dcor and architecture, and build from there. Do the public areas first the dining room, entryway and kitchen then phase in bedrooms and bathrooms.

Beware of novelty. While you want to avoid the matched package, dont get fixtures that are too unique. An overly artistic fixture might satisfy your immediate need for change but might fall out of vogue faster, and could hurt your homes resale value.

Fit the furniture. Consider what the fixture will hang over and make sure the styles work together. While its fine and often desirable to pair a modern fixture with an old, distressed table, be intentional.

Keep up. Homeowners today want fixtures that are airy and light in color and weight, Crossley says, as opposed to dark and heavy. Although dark tones are out, the exception is black, which is popular today in white and gray interiors, where they add welcome contrast.

Matching your architecture is always in style. Though styles come and go, light fixtures that fit your homes architecture have staying power. A fancy, traditional crystal chandelier will always be at home in a French chateau. Iron scones will always fit in a rustic farmhouse, and an antler fixture will forever feel right in a Wyoming hunting lodge.

Join me next week for more enlightening light fixture tips.

Marni Jameson is the author of five home and lifestyle books, including Downsizing the Family Home What to Save, What to Let Go and Downsizing the Blended Home When Two Households Become One. You may reach her at marnijameson.com.

More:
When its time to pull the plug on dated light fixtures - Marin Independent Journal

This is a Tale of Two Snots. Think Big Snot and Little Snot, but I will call them droplets and aerosols.

Years ago, I saw an evening outdoor production at the Oregon Shakespearean Festival in Ashland, Ore. Each time the king projected his powerful voice, he spewed out droplets of spit and mucus which were perfectly lit up by the stage lights. Gravity would immediately take over, and the droplets, after their explosive sendoff, would quickly drop downward toward the crowd below and out of the lights. I recall this quite clearly because I was in the second row.

What I didn't know at the time is that most droplets go down within about six feet from the speaker (although a professional stage actor probably often exceeds the six feet); and 90 percent of what we spray out are not droplets, but are aerosols, very tiny particles that don't immediately respond to gravity but instead float and drift with the air currents.

Recently Dean Mark Williams and the UAMS College of Public Health, the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce, and Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield sponsored a conference: Proper Ventilation During Covid (tinyurl.com/uamsvent).

The first two hours are very practical presentations by two experts, Luke Leung and Elliott Gall, on how to make a school, small business, or home safer from covid by improving the quality of indoor air. Since mid-March, which for most of us was the beginning of our personal efforts to avoid infection, we have benefited from outdoor time in spring, summer, and a nice fall.

Outdoor air is safer air. In general, a pollutant indoors is 1,000 times more likely to be inhaled than outdoors. Pollutants are much more quickly diluted outdoors. In the early days of covid, a foreign study did an analysis of approximately 7,500 cases; 7,322 of them were acquired indoors, but only two outdoors. Other summertime factors increase the decay of the virus: more sunshine, higher temperatures, and more humidity.

This is where the aerosols, the Little Snot, become important. Indoors we still get protection from masks and physical distancing, but we put ourselves at increased risk if we ignore the possibility that someone with covid left small aerosolized virus/mucus particles drifting in the air.

Here are some topics to discuss with a heat/air expert.

Winter air is dryer. A relative humidity indoors of 40 to 60 percent can be helpful in clearing inhaled virus from lungs. Obviously condensation problems should be avoided.

If possible, some outside air coming through the heat and air system is very important. In a school or business, proper adjustment of the heat and air system is essential.

Filtration with a MERV 13 filter or above can be very helpful in eliminating the aerosol particles, but this topic needs to be discussed with a heat/air expert knowledgeable about your system.

Small portable air cleaner units with HEPA filters may be an alternative. I recently spent some time in a big dental chair in a small room, reassured by a portable filter on the floor beside me.

In a school or business, pay attention to the direction of the flow of the indoor air. Fans can be very helpful if they are moving fresh clean air into an occupied area. They are not so helpful if they are recirculating air loaded with aerosolized virus/mucus particles from one customer to another.

Utilizing the heat and air system fan helps particularly if it takes air through a MERV 13 filter. And if air is continuously moving through a filter, and outside air is coming inside in appropriate proportions, it doesn't take long for a room's air to be exchanged.

Those are my amateurish attempts to summarize some major points from the webinar. But I strongly recommend going to the UAMS College of Public Health website and spending an hour learning about the aerosolized particles of mucus, the Little Snot, that can deliver floating covid virus to you, your customers, or your students. The hour or two won't make you an expert, but it will help you formulate the questions to ask.

Recently four Denver Broncos quarterbacks spent time together going over game films. When one of them tested positive for covid, all four were quarantined and missed the next game. My first thought was: What kind of air ventilation was in that room?

--v--

Vic Snyder is the corporate medical director for external affairs at Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Read the original:
OPINION | VIC SNYDER: In the air - Arkansas Online

The Patriots are in a tough spot. They were among the league's worst teams when it came to run defense. They ranked 29th in the NFL in expected points added allowed per rush, per Ben Baldwin of The Athletic. They were last in football in rush DVOA, according to Football Outsiders.

Can only go up from there, right? Well, there's an issue. The Patriots are about to watch their two best interior defensive linemen hit free agency.

Lawrence Guy is a member of the latest All-Decade Team in New England and their best defensive lineman over the course of the last four seasons since he arrived via free agency from Baltimore. He can play just about any spot up front between the tackles, and Bill Belichick often aligns him across from an opposing offense's top lineman, gumming up the works for whatever it is that particular opponent wants to do in the running game. He's free to sign anywhere in March.

Adam Butler, meanwhile, is less a run-stuffer than he is a pass-rusher. But he's been a critical piece to the puzzle since the departure of Trey Flowers in the 2019 offseason. Where Flowers once was the team's top interior rusher in obvious passing situations, Butler slid in. He was in on four sacks this season -- eight last season -- and was third on the team with 27 total pressures. He's also free to sign anywhere in March.

Of course, there's a chance that Guy and Butler are back. Guy, in particular, is a favorite of the coaching staff and has been a captain. From a public perception standpoint, he's among the most underrated players the team has had over the course of the last several years.

But what if they aren't? Who's around to help fix what ails this defensive front? It ain't a long list ...

BYRON COWART

The 6-foot-3, 300-pounder is a nice fit as a 3-4 end in Belichick's scheme. One of the most highly-recruited high school players in the country years ago, he landed at Auburn and later transferred to Maryland. He was drafted in the fifth round in 2019 but took the equivalent of a professional "redshirt" year, seeing 43 snaps as a rookie.

Last year he started all 14 games in which he appeared, playing over 400 snaps and seeing a regular role alongside Guy on the interior in running situations. He's a favorite to land back in that same role in 2021, but the Patriots need more from him. He graded out as the No. 99 interior defensive lineman in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus.

BEAU ALLEN

Remember him? He was set to take over for Danny Shelton as the team's top nose tackle, as his size (6-foot-2, 333 pounds) separates him from 3-4 ends like Cowart and Guy. We just never saw him. He was spotted during one day of training camp -- a simulated game inside Gillette Stadium that he watched -- but never played in front of members of the media. He remains under contract, and if healthy he could be a starter for a defense that could desperately use a big body.

The Patriots are one of the few teams in the league that values a true nose tackle, and that spot is still up for grabs in Foxboro. Allen is on track to earn $2.2 million in base salary in the fall, but if released he'd save the Patriots almost $3 million against the cap. Another nose tackle option could be Carl Davis, who played 51 snaps in three games for the Patriots this year, but he's scheduled to be a free agent in March.

AKEEM SPENCE

Best known for his role in helping the Patriots make a fourth-down goal-line stand at the end of the first half against the Cardinals last season, Spence could be back in the mix for the Patriots next season. The 6-foot-1, 300-pounder is 28 and would be an undersized reserve option for Belichick's front.

BILL MURRAY

Signed as an undrafted rookie out of William & Mary, Murray spent the 2020 season on the Patriots practice squad and recently signed a future contract to remain with the team through the offseason.

NICK THURMAN

With good size (6-foot-4, 305 pounds) to play up front as a 3-4 end, Thurman is headed into his third season in New England. He spent all of 2019 on the practice squad and last season played in seven games, starting one. Like Murray, he signed a future contract to be with the Patriots when camps open up.

Read the rest here:
Perry: Pats' defensive front can't afford to lose Lawrence Guy this offseason - NBC Sports Boston

We are almost ready to start our second month of 2021 and I know that many people are itching to start their vegetable seedlings indoors. I am right there with you, but it is important to know a few things before starting seeds inside.

Before starting seeds indoors, it is important to read the seed packet. It contains lots of information that is needed to start successful plants. Some of the important information it contains includes: if the seeds can be started inside or if they need to be directly sown into soil, how soon before the first frost should they be started inside, what growing conditions are needed for the plant, and the sell by date of the seeds.

You might think this last item is a bit odd. Why would anyone need to know when a seed packet needs to be sold by, it isnt perishable like milk or any other grocery item. It is important to know when the seeds need to be sold by because the older a seed is the less likely it is to germinate (sprout). Now if you are like me and dont plant all of the seeds that come in the packet because you dont need 50 tomato plants in one year, that is fine. You can save those seeds. You should consider performing a germination test before the next planting season.

A germination test is really easy to do, and is a fun science project if you have kids around. To perform this test, take 10 seeds out of your saved seeds and place them in the middle of a moist paper towel and cover them with the paper towel. This test should be left in a warm location because seeds need warmth to germinate not light. After a few days check on the seeds to see if they have started to sprout. Some plant seeds may take longer to germinate than others, so if you dont see any signs of life after 10 days then the seeds are probably not going to germinate. If 10 out of 10 seeds germinate then you should have 100% success with your saved seeds.

Once you confirm that you have viable seeds, then you can start your seeds indoors. In reading one of the tomato seed packets I have, it says that I can start these seeds 5-7 weeks before the last frost. For our area of the state, the average spring frost date is the middle of April. Planting tomatoes outside in the middle of April just isnt feasible because the soil temperatures arent warm enough, so we would want to look at a date in May. For our sake, lets say the soil warms up and we can plant tomatoes on May 10th. If we count back 7 weeks from May 10th, then we could start our tomato seeds on March 22nd. If you have the space and want some bigger plants you could start your seeds a little sooner than March 22nd, but you may have to transplant them a time or two into larger containers if you have a really green thumb and the seedlings take off.

When starting plants inside, it is also important to think about light and heat. Once plants sprout, they need light. If they arent getting enough direct light from right above them, then they are going to lean and start to grow towards a light source. If plants start to grow towards a light, you can rotate the container a quarter of a turn every week to help even out the bending or create a light source that is directly above the plants. The other item to think about is heat. If placed directly above or below a heat source, the soil that the seedlings are in will dry out very fast and damage may be done to the seedlings. It is import to pick a location that is warm, but not in direct line with heat flow or a draft from windows and doors. Drafts could stunt the growth of the seedlings.

Starting seeds inside is easy, and very rewarding. Just make sure to read the seed packet ahead of time to get all of the proper growing information.

Sources used:

Purdue Publication HO-186-W: Indiana Vegetable Planting Calendar by Michael N. Dana and B. Rosie Lerner

Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service is an equal access/equal opportunity institution.

For more information about starting seeds, contact Gina Anderson ANR/CD Extension Educator at the Purdue Extension Floyd County Office, 812-948-5470, or email Gina at gmanders@purdue.edu.

See more here:
Planting season is on the horizon | News | newsandtribune.com - Evening News and Tribune