Romelu Lukaku shed some light on what life is like in the Manchester United dressing in conversations with Alexis Sanchez and Ashley Young, according to reports.

Lukaku left United for Inter Milan in 2019, and was later followed by his former team-mates Sanchez and then Young.

The duo allegedly spoke to Lukaku before they made the leap, to find out more about the Serie A club and whether he believed them following him to Italy would be worthwhile.

According to Italian publication La Repubblica, via Sport Witness, Lukaku spoke to the duo about the unified atmosphere in the Inter dressing room.

He compared this to the one he had just left behind at Manchester United, which he allegedly described as divided, with certain players in cliques.

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The insight from Lukaku comes amid a report in The Athletic that a number of Red Devils stars lost their temper during half-time of their defeat by Tottenham.

United were well and truly embarrassed in a 6-1 defeat by Spurs, and arguments are said to have broken out between players at the break.

Bruno Fernandes was named as one such player who was particularly livid, with United stars angry with Erik Lamela for his part in Anthony Martial's red card.

Man United have started this season unusually poorly, and reacted by signing no fewer than four new players in the transfer window.

Edinson Cavani was snapped up on a free transfer alongside Alex Telles from Porto.

The Red Devils also splashed the cash on Amad Diallo, who joins the club in January, and teenage winger Facundo Pellistri.

Will Manchester United finish in the top four this season? Have your say here.

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Romelu Lukaku sheds light on what Man Utd dressing room is like amid claims of angry row - Mirror Online

THE Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) investigation report into the Anglican Church shows how our neglect of the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of children and young people, in favour of protecting our reputation, was in conflict with our mission to love and care for the vulnerable. I would add that it reveals how the Church has failed to model itself on the Christ who stood with the marginalised and the victims, saw those who were overlooked or shunned, and included those who had been shut out.

But I knew all this from my own experience in the Church, from reading reports and following inquiries, and from engaging with survivors. So, it is a relief to see it all set down on paper or, at least, some of it. There will be more; there is inevitably more that has not yet come into the light.

Of course, there has been progress over recent years. The report acknowledges this. We, in the Church, see the rewritten guidance, the ever-developing training modules, the increasing investment in the national safeguarding structures, and the growth of the safeguarding teams in individual dioceses. We see the recent launch of the Safe Spaces project and the pilot reparation scheme (News, 2 October).

BUT how can we have moved so slowly on all of this? Why did so few people question or challenge? Why could we not contemplate the ability of our colleagues (lay and ordained) to perpetrate abuse?

The Chichester/Peter Ball investigation report highlights a number of concerns about the culture of the Church of England: clericalism, tribalism, navety, concern for reputation, and a culture of fear and secrecy regarding sexuality. The IICSA report sets out generously some of the recent initiatives to improve the culture of the C of E; but, to be honest, they seem weak, especially given the size of the challenge.

So, I think that we need to start calling out the parts of our culture that are dangerous and corrupt. I long to hear more prophetic voices in the Church. I long to see some serious theological engagement with the issue of abuse in the Church. I long, above all else, for us to be more Christlike.

I want to see a true culture change that leads to authentic repentance, in which our attitudes and behaviour shift and our practice improves not because we are told we need to do better, but because we yearn to do better. I want us to hunger for justice and to work relentlessly and enthusiastically to make our churches safer places.

THE IICSA report makes for very uncomfortable reading, and that is helpful. It contains some important conclusions and recommendations that will assist the Anglican Church to improve its safeguarding arrangements. It challenges us to regain the trust of those who have been abused.

Above all, it sheds some much-needed light on things that many in the Church have sought to keep hidden in darkness. Now, it is time for us to open our eyes, to really see what is going on and what needs to be done and to move heaven and earth to make the crucial changes.

The Ven. Julie Conalty is the Archdeacon of Tonbridge and Bishops Lead for Safeguarding in the diocese of Rochester.

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Comment: the IICSA report sheds light on darkness in the Church - Church Times

Kiss the GroundTonight at 7pm followed by Q&AChiTown Movies2343 South Throop StreetNo Fee; First 75 get swag bagwww.kissthegroundmovie.comwww.kissthegroundbook.com

KISS THE GROUND, isa powerful documentary exploring soil regeneration and its place as a compelling and effective solution to our planets climate crisis is on Netflix now.Directed and produced byRebecca TickellandJosh Tickell(FUEL, PUMP, THE BIG FIX).

The film is narrated byWoody Harrelsonand featuresIan Somerhalder, Gisele Bndchen,Jason Mraz, andPatricia and David Arquette. With a brand-new song by award winning Jason Mraz. The filmwas a selection of the2020Tribeca Film Festival.

KISS THE GROUNDis an inspiring and groundbreaking film that reveals the first viable solution to our climate crisis. KISS THE GROUND reveals that, by regenerating the worlds soils we can rapidly stabilize the Earths climate, restore local ecosystems and create abundant food supplies. Using compelling graphics and visuals, along with striking NASA and NOAA footage, the film artfully illustrates how, by drawing down atmospheric carbon, soil is the missing piece of the climate puzzle. The movie is positioned to catalyze a movement to accomplish the impossible to solve humanitys greatest challenge, to balance the climate and secure our species future.

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Kiss the Ground Documentary Sheds New Light on Climate Change - WGN-TV

Princess of Jordan Sarah Zeid visited Isiolo County on Friday where she interacted with nursing mothers and their children.

She also toured Kambi Sheikh village in Burat ward where locals farm fruits and vegetables as well fish with support from the World Food Program (WFP).

I am happy to have seen the transformation in this farm which is a result of the partnership between Governor Kutis administration and World Food Programme, she said.

Princess Zeid is American-born maternal and newborn health activist.

On Friday, she lauded the working relationship between leaders and the World Food Programme stating that combining resources and skills will ensure that women, girls and children remain healthy.

Isiolo Governor Mohamed Kuti echoed her sentiments saying: It is a special day for the people of Isiolo County as Princess Sarah Zeid has come to witness how my Governments partnership with World Food Programme is slowly addressing issues of malnutrition that affects our people.

Isiolo is one of the 25 counties that contributes to the 26% malnutrition rate in Kenya.

Governor Kuti expressed optimism that Princess Zeid would amplify her voice in advocating for the people of Isiolo County given that she has had first hand experience of challenges that the residents face.

He reiterated the need to put in place mechanisms that offer alternatives for residents who have to travel far for maternal health services.

It is unfortunate that some mothers still have to deliver at home with help from traditional birth attendants, since its the only option they have, owing to lack of health facilities closer to them, he said.

Video Of The Day: | BULLDOZERS FOR SANITIZERS | Families remain in the cold after evictions from Kariobangi sewage estate

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Princess of Jordan Sarah Zeid's visit to Isiolo sheds light on maternal... - Citizen TV

The cryptocurrency platform Coinbase has now shed five percent of its employees over its policies preventing employees from bringing their activist agendas into the workplace.

Brian Armstrong, the companys CEO, announced that 60 of the 1200 employees of his company had agreed to take an exit package after he directed his employees to separate politics from work.

In a post titled, A follow up to Coinbase being a mission focused company, Armstrong shared an email that he sent to his employees. He said that the company could have done a better job bringing the Operating Group and managers along on this clarification of our culture so everyone was prepared before it went to a wider group.

He also said that some more employees were in conversation and may also exit the company after their policy about politics was made official.

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It is worth noting that Coinbase had lost some of its employees a few months ago when the company refused to declare its stance on the Black Lives Matter movement. Added to that is the new policy to separate politics from work, persuading a greater number of activist employees to quit the company.

Armstrong, talking about the current wave of employees quitting the company over the latest policy, said that minority groups havent disproportionately quit their positions when compared to other communities. It was reassuring to see that people from under-represented groups at Coinbase have not taken the exit package in numbers disproportionate to the overall population.

Answering several questions about the company and its approach towards politics, Armstrong said that he wouldnt mind being political about anything related to crypto, considering its related to their mission and inherently political.

He said that he trusts his employees to display their judgement and steer clear of politics. We recognise its a blurry line and ask that employees use good judgement. Our goal is not to look for violations, but rather to support employees in adapting to these clarified expectations.

Coinbase, on the whole, doesnt see parting ways with a significant number of employees as a bad thing. Armstrong says that the company will be more aligned.

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Coinbase sheds 60 activist employees after refusing to bring politics into the company - Reclaim The Net

A report released by data analytics firm Niko Partners sheds light on trends and developments from the world of mobile gaming in Asia. The report estimates that Asia has more than 1.2B mobile gamers, which is more than half of the total mobile gamers in the world. This report is the final part of a series of reports on the gaming and esports industries in Asia published by the firm.

China: The Biggest Mobile Gaming Market in Asia in 2019.

The report suggests that China was the biggest mobile gaming market in Asia with over 657M mobile gamers. Approximately $18.5B was the estimated revenue from the mobile gaming market in China, nearly half of the total mobile gaming revenue from Asia. Honor of Kings, Peacekeeper Elite, and Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Strategy Edition were the three highest-grossing titles in the country in 2019. While mobile MMORPGs (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games) such as Asktao and New Ghost were popular in the country, they have been replaced by competitive titles such as Honor of Kings and Peacekeeper Elite (A reworked version of PUBG MOBILE for China).

Japan and South Korea:

Japan was the second biggest mobile gaming market in Asia, generating $11.6B in revenue. Titles that are more popular among mobile gamers in Japan are RPG (Role Playing Games) titles. Eight out of the top 10 mobile games in Japan were licensed versions of existing titles on the PC or console.

South Koreas adoption of 5G technology has resulted in greater adoption of mobile titles and the country generated $5.34B in revenue. The countrys existing gaming and tech-friendly culture has allowed videogames on all platforms to thrive and for the mobile, RPGs were the dominant genre.

India:

India has the second-largest mobile market in the world and has slowly but surely adopted the video gaming culture. Trends point to more and more gamers shifting from hyper-casual titles to more complex competitive ones. PUBG MOBILE, a game that is now banned in India and Free Fire were the highest-grossing titles in the country. Because of the higher penetration of phones with lower technical specs, lite versions of games such as PUBG MOBILE and low requirement games such as Free Fire have seen success, while high requirement titles such as Fortnite Mobile arent as popular. The popularity of PUBG MOBILE has paved the way for the shooter genre and titles such as Free Fire and Call of Duty: Mobile are reaping the benefits. Esports-friendly titles are also appearing in top 10 most played games lists indicating that the sector is showing steady growth and development.

Southeast Asia:

Southeast Asia has the most engaged mobile internet users in the world with 90% of internet users accessing it via their phones. The report touches on the impact and influence of religion and culture and how it translates to video games. For example, local culture inspired in-game events and regional holiday-based activations have been a big hit in the region.

Southeast Asia is also a region where esports has driven popularity for mobile titles and names such as Free Fire, PUBG MOBILE, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, and Arena of Valor all feature in the list of most played games. Estimates suggest that prize pools in esports grew by 244% from 2018 to 2019 with help in terms of government support and policy.

You can learn more about the report here.

Shounak Sengupta is a staff writer for AFK Gaming.

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Niko Report Sheds Light on Mobile Gaming in Asia - TEO - The Esports Observer

(The Center Square) Months before Tuesday nights debacle of a debate between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden, finger pointing had raged in the wake of policy failures that exacerbated state-reported death counts associated with COVID-19.

Set aside for a moment that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has radically dropped its estimate of COVID-alone deaths to about 6% of the more than 200,000 Americans who have died during the pandemic. Instead, focus on the decisions that may or may not have exacerbated the overall attributable death count numbers that are shared widely across media.

Governors in California, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Washington have been singled out as having made conscious decisions to return elderly and infirmed residents back to state-operated congregate care settings. These decisions made early on during the outbreak, in hindsight, are now clear policy disasters.

Michigan and its governor, Democrat Gretchen Whitmer, havent been exposed to the same level of criticism for decisions to return COVID-19-stricken nursing home residents back to their congregate care settings for recovery after seeking treatment outside of those settings. However, it appears that Whitmers policy was no different than those of her fellow Blue State leaders.

Data show COVID-19 has killed 2,154 nursing home residents in Michigan, many who were elderly and had preexisting conditions that compromised their immune systems about 33% of the states total deaths attributed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

The Center Square clarified newly available data to distinguish that those deaths resulted from the designation of long-term care facilities as Care and Recovery Centers (CRCs) by an executive order issued by Whitmer, which resulted in infected patients returning to nursing homes occupied by the elderly and infirm.

Despite efforts from the Michigan Legislature to force the governor to reverse her order, she resisted. It was not until this week, heeding a recommendation from the Michigan Nursing Homes COVID-19 Preparedness Task Force, that the governor reversed her previous policy with her 191th executive order.

Clearly, our ability as a nation to aggregate correct data amid COVID-19 has led to confusion among lawmakers and citizens alike. This data, though it remains the product of individuals interpreting local, state and national standards for reporting accuracy and categorization, is improving.

Nonetheless, best available estimates as aggregated by the CDC suggest that about 40% of all COVID-exclusive and COVID-related or -complicated deaths have occurred within nursing homes. That statistic could rise or fall as we push ahead.

Elsewhere in Michigan, The Center Square reported on the failure of two mid-Michigan dams last May that resulted in an estimated $200 million in property damage, and prompted the evacuation of 11,000 people. The dams were privately owned and nearly a century old. Michigans Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE; formerly known as the Department of Environmental Quality, or DEQ) had been engaged in a confrontational relationship with the owner of the dams, Boyce Hydro, which exacerbated the maintenance neglect on the dams.

Rather than working with Boyce Hydro by assisting it with grants and low-cost loans in order to protect public safety and the environment, EGLE and the state Attorney General instead opted to litigate against the private company even after an EGLE inspection two years ago rated one of the dams in fair condition.

* * * *

NATIONAL

As many public schools across the country decided to go with remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, families with working parents struggle to balance their jobs with helping their children navigate through the distant learning process. This has led to a significant increase in support for school choice options, and The Center Square highlighted this in a report on a new poll gauging parents' opinions.

ILLINOIS

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan should answer questions about a bribery scheme in a case where federal prosecutors have already secured one guilty plea. The governor's comments came after the chairman of the committee investigating Madigan's involvement defended using Madigans influence to get jobs for people he knows. State Rep. Chris Welch, D-Hillside, defended asking Madigan in the past to help him get jobs for people he knows as a way to fight for diversity. He said advocating for qualified candidates was the correct thing to do even if one of those people was his mother.

Elsewhere in Illinois, the Center Square reported that education advocates said its imperative to get students back in classrooms because virtual learning is negating months of education and could cost students nearly a years earnings in adulthood, according to one analysis. Advance Illinois president Robin Steans pointed to a June study by McKinsey and Co. that estimated the economic losses if students don't return to in-person learning by January 2021. McKinsey said that, even with remote learning, the average student could lose $61,000 to $82,000 in lifetime earnings (in constant 2020 dollars), or the equivalent of a year of full-time work, solely as a result of COVID-19-related learning losses.

NEW YORK

The states of Texas and Florida, with a combined population of about 50 million people, have about 128,000 public sector employees who make more than $100,000 annually. New York City, by comparison, counts about 8.4 million people in the five boroughs but nearly matches those states with 114,000 city employees making six figures or more. As New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo continue to demand federal assistance to bail out their ailing budgets, a report from OpenTheBooks.com shows that the trend of workers in the city making $100,000 a year has skyrocketed in recent years. The number of city employees crossing that threshold increased about 50 percent in the past three years. Overtime pay has been a significant driver in the rise, with city employees putting in 32 million extra hours at a cost of $1.9 billion.

NEW JERSEY

The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis released what looked like good news for the economy of New Jersey this week when its reporting showed a 63 percent jump in wage growth for the state in the second quarter of 2020. But Dr. Charles Steindel, former chief economist for the state, told The Center Square that those numbers dont reflect a sudden strengthening rather, they merely reflect the impact of federal stimulus checks. Theres no question most of this was stimulus, Steindel said. Wage income just collapsed in New Jersey. The states economy could be in for more speed bumps as a new budget goes into effect with $4.5 billion in borrowing and a new millionaires tax that will increase the states progressive tax income bracket on people earning between $1 million and $5 million to 10.75% from 8.97%. Only Hawaii (11%) and California (13.3%) have higher upper-tier state rates for select income earners. In the third quarter, we are going to see a terrible number, Steindel said.

OHIO

The Center Square reported that the Ohio Legislature failed by an Oct. 1 deadline to act on a bill that would repeal House Bill 6, legislation that led to the indictment of former House Speaker and four others in a $60-million bribery and racketeering scandal. Missing the deadline makes it more difficult to stop an increase to electricity bills across the state.

The current state of healthcare may become permanent in Ohio, and thats a positive thing according to research and a report from The Buckeye Institute. A bill in the Ohio Senate increases accessibility and expands telehealth services in the state.

PENNSYLVANIA

The Center Square reported on the issue of creating a commission that oversees election integrity to ensure fair elections, which sparked tensions in the Pennsylvania legislature. Republicans are pushing for greater post-election transparency authority ahead of the Nov. 3 election through the creation of the new committee, which would have subpoena power and consist of a five-member panel composed of three Republicans and two Democrats. Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf called the legislation a partisan attack on the integrity of Pennsylvania elections.

VIRGINIA

Businesses in Virginia already hit hard by the restrictions placed on them by Gov. Ralph Northam in the state's attempt to combat the COVID-19 pandemic now have to worry about regulations that were meant to be temporary becoming permanent. The Center Square reported on the Virginia business community's concerns with making regulations such as face mask, social distancing, training and record-keeping requirements permanent in the face of economic uncertainty. Business leaders called for flexibility and cautioned that making COVID-19-era regulations permanent would put businesses out of business.

ARIZONA

In Arizona, election returns aren't just late because of their western timezone. The state has taken hours, sometimes weeks, to finalize county election totals due to large provisional ballot numbers and a poor track record of technological glitches. Should the state be a major decider in the presidential election, it could mean the entire nation waits on Maricopa County Recorder Adrian Fontes to announce the final vote tally. This prompted Gov. Doug Ducey to tell reporters "I want to manage expectations that we will likely not be declaring a winner, possibly at the state level and certainly nationally, on the evening of November 3rd and whoever wins that electoral college will be declared President of the United States.

CALIFORNIA

The Center Square reported that California public health officials are predicting an 89% increase in COVID-19-related hospitalizations in October despite the states positivity rate sitting at only 3%. However, the forecasted increase in hospitalizations would fall far short of peak-pandemic hospitalization totals. Based on current numbers, California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said the state projects 4,864 coronavirus hospitalizations by Oct. 25, a nearly 90 percent increase from the current 2,578. That would still be well below peak hospitalizations, which occurred for California in July, when its total reached 7,100.

COLORADO

Colorado voters are deciding on a whopping 11 ballot measures this election season, with several being taxpayer-related measures. One of those measures, Proposition 116, proposes a modest cut to the statewide income tax rate. The measure is hailed as taxpayer relief by fiscally conservative policy groups in the state, and despised by left-leaning organizations since the measure would reduce revenue for the state government.

WASHINGTON

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan did not exercise a veto of the Seattle City Council as part of a rebalanced city budget. As a consequence of the councils decision, The Center Square reported that the defunding of the Seattle Police Department would include a reduction in force of 70 officers, and a dismantling the citys homeless sweeps unit, which is anticipated to set off contentious contract bargaining with the Seattle Police Guild and the Seattle Police Management Association.

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The Sunday Read: Data sheds new light on Michigan Gov. Whitmers handling of nursing home illnesses amid COVID-19 - The Center Square

If you're working from home, here are some tips to stay productive and ensure your home office is optimized for working remotely. USA TODAY

Robin Salcidoand her husband have been sharing a small home office since March as America eased into the era of remote work.

Shes an artist. Hes an engineer. But as the months ticked on, the couple in Louisville, Colorado,longed toseparate their work environments.

Let's face it, no matter how great a relationship is and ours is pretty fantastic no one wants to be on top of each other 24/7, especially when you're working, Salcido said. Now that we cant go to coffee shops, and were really limited in other opportunities for leaving the house to get some work done, we realized we need more space.

So they ordered a prefabricated backyard shed thats getting installed on Friday. Salcido will use it at her office.

As the COVID-19 crisis enters its sixth month, an increasing number of Americans are buying and building backyard sheds useas home offices. For some, it represents a chance to get work doneaway from the kids as schools practice remote learning in the fall. For others, its a necessity because theres no room for an office setup inside their home.

Apartments for rent: Americans don't want yearlong leases amid the pandemic, neither do landlords

These detached, mostly self-contained spaces are more affordable and more practical than taking on a full-scale construction project, shed buyers say.

Google queriesfor office sheds began to tick higher in April, a few weeks after the pandemic was declared, according to search data.Searches began trending higher again in mid-Augustas the nation entered the back-to-school season. Companies that sell backyard shed products are noticing the trend.

Tim Vack, general manager at Modern-Shed, said there has been a 400% rise in interest this summer. A 50% rise in the summer is typicalas people take on more outdoor projects.The company gauges interest by downloads of its online catalog.

A lot of companies are allowing their employees from home from now on if they choose. Soeverybody is scrambling to find space to put their computer, Vack said. People are growing tired of putting their laptop on their dining room tableor their kitchen countertop.

These detachedoffice spacesare more premium than the standard metal shedsat Home Depot. You decide on what style of wood you'd like to use, where you'd like thewindows to be placed and various other customization options. The more you want, the more you pay.

Modern-Shed tailors each outdoor building to the buyers specifications. The firm then uses independent installation companies to do all the on-the-ground work.

Most people are choosing to buy spaces that offer an additional 120 square feet, said Mike Koenig, president and co-founder of Studio Shed.

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The 12-year-old Colorado-based company said it saw a huge spike in inquiries for backyard home space since March. Most of the buyers are using them for home offices, followed by school rooms for their kids, and a few are being converted into home gyms, Koenig said.

Maybe the kids are doing their schoolwork in the shed" away from parents who can then work peacefully inside the house,Koenig said.

Studio Shed, which ships to all 50 states, sends buyers a flat-packaged kit to be installed in their yard.

Prices are typically around $120 to $180 a square foot, depending on size and other options, the company says. Prices for its entry-level series start at $10,500.

Thats substantially lower than costs associated with hiring a contractorand buying materials to build onto your existing home. The average cost to build onto your home ranges from just over $21,000 up to $70,000, according to Home Advisor.

Modern-Shed says more people are converting backyard sheds into home offices.(Photo: Modern Shed)

Salcido said shes saving more than $150,000 by choosing a backyard shed office rather than building on top of her existing house.

We wouldve had to tear down the garage to add more concrete to support another level, Salcido said. It wouldve been way too much work to go through just for another studio room. The Studio Shed room she chose comes with electrical outlets and mini splits for AC and heating.

The typical turnaround time for sheds is four to six weeks from the order date, according to Studio Shed.

People who go for larger backyard home offices often have a lengthier build process, experts say, in part because states require varying permits for constructing rooms over a certain size.

While many are turning to companies for help with their shed, some people are going the do-it-yourself route, which is an even cheaper way to add a yard shed.

In April, Julie Massonshusband and a neighbor teamed up on her She shed project. It took three months to build.Now she uses the 120-square-foot room as an office escape from the kids' distance learning in the main house.

Julie Masson's backyard "she shed" looks like a mini home. Her husband Jesse helped build it during the pandemic so she can work remotely.(Photo: Julie Masson)

My husband sketched out a blueprint on a piece of paper. I decided where I wanted the door and windows to be. And our neighbor told us the supplies we needed, said Masson, who lives in Kansas City, Missouri. They bought the home improvement materials from Lowes, Home Depot and Menards.

The entire project cost $5,000 including office furniture from IKEA. The hardest part was digging an 18-inch-deep trench from the house to the shed for the electrical wires, Masson said. Starting around 10 a.m. Monday to Friday, she works as a marketing director from the outdoor shed. She clocks out around 6 p.m.

Julie Masson designed the interior of this outdoor shed built by her husband and a neighbor.(Photo: Julie Masson)

I have this routine at the end of my day where I lower my standing desk, I shut the shades, I turn off my air conditioner I turn off the lights, I lock my door and I commute home, just a few steps away," Masson said.

Have you converted an ordinary shed into your office? Shows us! Send photos to Dalvin Brown on Twitter: @Dalvin_Brown.

Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/09/08/americans-turn-backyard-sheds-into-home-offices-pandemic-rages/3454144001/

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Americans are buying, building, converting backyard sheds into home offices - USA TODAY

Upgrading the backyard for the staycation just got easier with a new showroom opened in Manahawkin by an experienced company building bar sheds, pavilions, pool houses and more.

Oaktree Sheds & Gazebos, at 657 East Bay Ave., is a retail store with models of the quality sheds, gazebos and other products that build relaxation into the outdoor time families spend together.

In business for 35 years, the owners pride themselves on experience, quality, service and affordable pricing. Bob Albrecht owns and operates the family business with his wife, Linda, and sons Bobby and Connor.

The company still has its main showroom in Monroe Township on Route 33, but the Albrechts now live in Surf City, so the Manahawkin location is a plus for everyone.

With COVID-19 and people working from home, theyre wanting to update their backyards, said Linda Albrecht, who was showing customers around the store located on the west front side of the Manahawkin Mart shops.

Bar sheds have been very popular. Another item that has become more and more in demand is the poly furniture: Adirondack chairs, dining sets, bar sets, she said. Theyre very durable and hold up very well in the weather at the shore.

Bob Albrecht, a builder and carpenter by trade, started his business in 1985. He first operated a lawn service and saw the need for custom-built sheds and gazebos. Later he expanded the product line to outdoor bars and bar sheds, pool houses, pavilions, sunrooms, stand-alone garages, pergolas, playhouses, cabins, mini-barns, pet sheds, Adirondack chairs and other backyard specialty items.

In recent years, virtually all of the companys items are built with the legendary skill of Amish craftsmen. However, Albrecht designs and delivers every product himself. Larger projects, such as pavilions, will be built by an Amish crew right on the homeowners property.

We do a lot of custom items, Linda said; for instance, homeowners may request a varied placement of a shed window.

Property owners will be the ones to check on any required permits from the town, and the company can give advice. Then Oak Tree builds to specifications. The company has worked extensively in Middlesex, Monmouth, Mercer and Ocean counties and as far south as Cape May County.

Albrecht guarantees every item he makes. Customer satisfaction is our first priority, Linda said.

The company uses all wood framing and sheathing no particle board. Wall studs and rafter beams are a standard 16 inches apart on center, while floor joists are all 12 inches apart on center. Sheds can be ordered in vinyl, cedar or T1-11 siding. Gazebos are available in wood or PVC.

Prices are extremely competitive, Linda said. Customers are given a price list up front that includes the cost of the finished product, shipping and delivery. There are no hidden fees.

Visit the showroom at 657 East Bay Ave. for an up-close look any day except Thursdays, view the website oaktreesheds.com, or phone 609-661-1299.

Were open throughout the fall at the Manahawkin showroom, and in the winter we take appointments.

One season prepares for enjoyment in another.

Weve done a lot of commercial jobs as well: beach lockers for Belmar, Spring Lake, Bradley Beach, beach cabanas for beach clubs in Monmouth County, benches on the boardwalk in Belmar.

Maria Scandale

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Oaktree Sheds & Gazebos Extend the 'Staycation' - The SandPaper

Dining at a restaurant is one of the riskiest activities for contracting the novel coronavirus, according to a CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report published Friday.

How Covid-19 is changing the future of the health care industry

CDC's new findings come as U.S. officials as of Friday morning reported a total of 6,416,700 cases of the novel coronavirus virus since the country's epidemic beganup from 6,378,900 cases reported as of Thursday morning.

Data from the New York Times shows there are nine states that have seen comparatively higher rates of coronavirus transmission, meaning they've had a daily average of at least 15 newly reported coronavirus cases per 100,000 people over the past week, where rates of newly reported cases are "staying high." Those states are Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.

Meanwhile, the Times' data shows that the daily averages of newly reported cases over the past seven days are "going down" in Alabama, Georgia, Guam, Iowa, and Mississippi, which all had been seeing comparatively higher rates of coronavirus transmission.

The Times' data also shows there are five states that have seen comparatively lower rates of coronavirus transmission, meaning they've had a daily average of fewer than 15 newly reported coronavirus cases per 100,000 people over the past week, but are now seeing those rates "going up." Those states are Alaska, Delaware, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

In addition, the Times' data shows that Puerto Rico; the U.S. Virgin Islands; Washington, D.C.; and 32 states have had comparatively lower rates of new coronavirus cases over the past week, and those rates are "staying low." Those states are Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming.

U.S. officials as of Friday morning also had reported a total of 191,628 deaths linked to the coronavirus since the country's epidemic beganup from 190,714 deaths reported as of Thursday morning.

According to the Times' data, Guam, Hawaii, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, and South Dakota saw their average daily numbers of newly reported deaths linked to the coronavirus rise over the past 14 days.

Although many areas of the United States still have coronavirus transmission rates that public health experts say are dangerously high, many states are moving forward with plans to reopen nonessential businesses that had been closed to help mitigate the virus' spreadincluding restaurants, bars, and other eateries for indoor and outdoor dining. But CDC's new report raises questions about whether dining out is safe amid the epidemic.

For the report, researchers from CDC and Hennepin Healthcare set out "[t]o assess community and close contact exposures associated with" confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus by comparing exposures reported by patients who contracted the virus with exposures reported by a control group of patients who were not infected with the virus. According to CDC, the "case-patient" group included 154 adult patients at 11 U.S. health care facilities who were experiencing symptoms of Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, and who tested positive for the virus. Meanwhile, the control group included 160 patients from those same medical facilities who were experiencing symptoms associated with Covid-19 but who tested negative for the coronavirus.

The patients received polymerase chain reaction tests for the novel coronavirus to confirm whether they were infected with the pathogen. The 11 medical facilities at which the patients received care were located in California, Colorado, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Utah, and Washington. The dates the patients had received care at the facilities spanned from July 1 to July 29.

Overall, the researchers found that patients who tested positive for the coronavirus were 2.4 times more likely to have reported dining at a restaurantincluding indoor, patio, and outdoor diningin the two weeks before they began to feel ill when compared with the patients who tested negative for the virus. In addition, the researchers found that 71% of the patients who tested positive for the coronavirus reported always wearing cloth face coverings or other face masks in public, compared with 74% of participants who tested negative for the virus.

According to the report, the researchers found "no significant differences" between the patient groups overall in terms of whether they:

The researchers also found that 42% of the patients who tested positive for the coronavirus reported having close contact with a person who was known to be infected with the virus, compared with 14% of the patients who tested negative. When the researchers narrowed their analysis to the 225 patients in the study who did not report having recent close contact with a person who was known to be infected with the virus, they found that patients who tested positive for the coronavirus were 2.8 times more likely to have reported dining at a restaurant and 3.9 times more likely to have reported going to a bar or coffee shop than patients those who tested negative.

The researchers in the report concluded, "Eating and drinking on-site at locations that offer such options might be important risk factors associated with [coronavirus] infection." They continued, "Efforts to reduce possible exposures where mask use and social distancing are difficult to maintain, such as when eating and drinking, should be considered to protect customers, employees, and communities."

But the researchers also noted that their study had limitations. For example, their study "question assessing dining at a restaurant did not distinguish between indoor and outdoor options," and their "question about going to a bar or coffee shop did not distinguish between the venues or service delivery methods, which might represent different exposures," the researchers wrote. In addition, the patients in the study were aware of whether they had tested positive or negative for the coronavirus at the time they were surveyed, "which could have influenced their responses to questions about community exposures and close contacts," the researchers explained. And lastly, the patients' true infection status may not have been known, as tests to detect the coronavirus are "imperfect," the researchers wrote.

And it's important to keep in mind that, while CDC's findings demonstrated a link between dining at a restaurant and coronavirus infection, they did not show that dining at restaurants caused coronavirus infections, The Hill reports.

Originally posted here:
Just how risky is it to dine out? CDC data sheds new light. - The Daily Briefing