In photos of 2023’s World Economic Forum- or Davos as it is commonly called, after the Swiss resort town where it annually occurs- you might not notice the HEPA filters. They’re in the background, unobtrusive and unremarked upon, quietly cleansing the air of viruses and bacteria. You wouldn’t know- not unless you asked- that every attendee was PCR tested before entering the forum, or that in the case of a positive test, access was automatically, electronically, revoked. And if you happened to get a glimpse of the strange blue lights overhead, you could reasonably assume that their glow was simply a modern aesthetic choice, not the calming buzz of cutting edge Far UVC technology- demonstrated to kill microbes in the air.

It’s hard to square this information with the public narrative about COVID, isn’t it? President Biden has called the pandemic “over”. The New York Times recently claimed that “the risk of Covid is similar to that of the flu” in an article about “hold outs” that are annoyingly refusing to accept continual reinfection as their “new normal”. Yet, this week the richest people in the world are taking common sense, easy- but strict- precautions to ensure they don’t catch Covid-19 at Davos.

These common sense, easy precautions include high-quality ventiliation, use of Far UVC-lighting technology, and PCR testing. You’ll also see some masks at Davos, but generally, the testing + air filtration protocol seems to be effective at preventing the kind of super-spreader events most of us are now accustomed to attending.

It seems unlikely to me that a New York Times reporter will follow the super-rich around like David Attenborough on safari, the way one of their employees did when they profiled middle-class maskers last month. I doubt they will write “family members and friends can get a little exasperated by the hyper-concern” about the assembled Prime Ministers, Presidents and CEOs in Switzerland. After all, these are important people. The kind of people who merit high-quality ventilation. The kind of people who deserve accurate tests.

Why is the media so hellbent on portraying simple, scientifically proven measures like high-quality ventilation as ridiculous and unnecessary as hundreds of people continue to die daily here in the US?

Why is the public accepting a “new normal” where we are expected to get infected over and over and over again, at work events with zero precautions, on airplanes with no masks, and at social dinners trying to approximate our 2019 normal?

We deserve better. We deserve to be #DavosSafe as the hashtag going around on twitter puts it. Your children deserve to be treated with the care that world leaders are treating each other. Your family deserves to be protected from the disease which is still- unlike the flu- the third leading cause of death in the US. We don’t deserve to be shoved back into poorly ventilated workplaces while our politicians and press assure us that only crazy people would demand to breathe clean air.

Clean water and clean food are rights we fought for; we have regulatory bodies that ensure we aren’t exposed to pathogens via our water supply nor our food. In 1854, John Snow famously conducted his Broad Street Pump study in London and demonstrated that cholera was water-bourne; however, it took decades for our public policy to catch up with our scientific knowledge.

A public health case study published by the NBCI describes the years that followed:

The first use of chlorine as a disinfectant for water facilities was in 1897 in England. The first use of this method for municipal water facilities in the United States was in Jersey City, New Jersey, and Chicago, Illinois, in 1915. Other cities followed and the use of chlorination as standard treatment for water disinfection rapidly grew. During the 20th century, death rates from waterborne diseases decreased significantly, and although other additional factors contributed to the general improvements in health (such as sanitation, improved quality of life, and nutrition), the improvement of water quality was, without doubt, a major reason.

Forty-three years passed from the initial demonstration that pathogens were being spread via water, and public action and regulation to halt disease.

Can you imagine, in the 1890s, being somebody who argued against cleaning the water?

Can you imagine, in those years of plentiful cholera, calling the people who demanded shit-free water “hold outs”?

One thing COVID realists are accused of is being “doomsayers” and “fearmongers,” so let me share a dose of optimism about the future with you. When we choose- whenever we choose- to get COVID under control, there’s an exciting new world awaiting us. One, not only without constant COVID reinfection, but where our kids can grow up free of colds, flus, RSV, and many other common bugs. And no, contrary to what you may have heard, staying healthy (shockingly enough) is not bad for children!

Once we choose to institute ventilation standards and introduce new technologies like Far UVC lighting- and embrace masking as an easy, kind, and useful tool to control outbreaks- we can bring every nasty airborne pathogen under control the way we did cholera. We didn’t have the science before; now we do. (I mean that quite literally; I can’t recommend enough the linked Wired article cataloguing the long journey to establishing that Covid is, indeed, airborne).

We face a stark choice; down one road, the one with zero infrastructure upgrades, no air quality regulations, and Covid safety only for those who can afford it, you and your family will get Covid this year. You will get Covid next year. You will continue to get Covid over and over and over again, as the health problems - like cardiac damage, viral persistance, and immune system dysfunction- continue to build up. (The billionaires, of course, will not).

Down the other road, we quite simply treat ourselves the way Davos would. We engage with what the science is telling us and we build a safer, better world for our kids. We embrace the lessons this pandemic is teaching us, and let go of things we now know are harming people. We stop clinging desperately to the idea that 2019 will come back if we just get the virus one more time, and we come together to achieve what we’ve been told is impossible: elimination.

The economic elite thrive on our divisiveness and blame casting. They don’t mind that we’re calling each other names, engaging in racial stereotyping, or leaving disabled people to die, so long as we keep their machine running. But we can choose to stop throwing blame at each other, and direct it where it belongs: at the powerful people who’ve left us to suffer, at the politicians who are whipping people into a frenzy over masks instead of over our millions of dead, at the talking heads on TV that work so hard to convince us: you want to get sick. It’s better than being a *weirdo* or a *hold out*.

We needn’t wait 43 years to redirect our energies. France and Belgium have already introduced new air quality standards, and DIY projects to build Corsi-Rosenthal boxes for schools and healthcare settings have popped up around the country. We have the science, we have the technology. All we need now is the political will and the solidarity to truly end the pandemic- the kind of solidarity the super rich always show with one another.

The billionaires at Davos don’t accept continual Covid reinfection. They demand better. It’s time we demand better too.

great news everyone: the new jersey state microbe IS streptomyces griseus

Effective Soil Remediation NJ Techniques for Protecting Environment

New Jersey's complex industrial history has left a legacy of contaminated sites requiring soil and groundwater cleanup. Implementing the right remediation approach ensures properties are restored while preventing further environmental impact.

This guide will walk through recommended methods for Soil Remediation NJ based on site conditions and contamination levels. Follow these best practices for an eco-friendly remedy protecting your piece of the Garden State.

Common NJ Contaminants Requiring Remediation

From leaking underground oil tanks to residual manufacturing waste, soil pollution varies. Common contaminants include:

Petroleum hydrocarbons - Diesel fuel, gasoline from storage tanks

Heavy metals - Lead, mercury, arsenic

Chlorinated solvents - Dry cleaning fluids, degreasers

Pesticides/insecticides - Long-lasting chemicals impacting soil quality

Testing is critical to pinpoint specific contaminants before remediation design.

Soil Remediation Regulations in New Jersey

The NJDEP has stringent regulations regarding permitted soil contamination levels and approved remediation methods. Any soil remediation work in NJ must be conducted according to the state's standards to remediate impacted sites successfully and obtain necessary sign-offs.

The NJ Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) oversees site cleanup procedures and standards through the Site Remediation Program. Key regulations include:

Mandatory licensing for environmental contractors

Remediation standards for acceptable contaminant levels post-cleanup

Direct oversight through licensed site experts

Strict compliance for meeting target health goals

Understanding regulatory guidance ensures environmentally compliant projects.

Standard Soil Remediation Techniques Used in NJ

Typical approaches Soil Remediation Services NJ contractors use include excavation and off-site disposal, soil flushing, bioremediation, and thermal treatments. Understanding these options helps determine the best course based on the specific type and level of contamination present.

Multiple methods effectively treat site pollution. Available options include:

Excavation- Physically removing contaminated soil

Chemical treatment- introducing stabilizing agents to neutralize pH levels

Bioremediation - using microbes to metabolize hydrocarbons

Thermal processes - heating soil to boil away volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

Various combinations create customized remediation for each unique spill scenario.

Key Factors Impacting Remediation Method Selection

Every contaminated site is unique, so choosing a soil remediation strategy requires assessing factors like soil type, depth and accessibility of contamination, toxic compounds present, and intended future land use. A qualified professional can recommend the technique best suited for the specific situation.

Soil treatment decisions weigh variables like:

Contamination levels - Concentration and characteristics of toxins

Depth of penetration - Surface spills vs. leaching into groundwater

Site constraints - Accessibility, proximity to structures/utilities

Cost considerations - Budget, available incentives/grants

Evaluating these specifics helps environmental contractors and Oil Tank Near Me NJ services develop remediation blueprints addressing priorities.

Ensuring Effective Containment and Validation Testing

Proper containment measures are vital during soil remediation to avoid spreading contaminants, and post-treatment testing is required to confirm contamination levels now meet NJDEP standards before the site can be deemed fully remediated and safe for the intended use. Both steps are critical for regulatory approval and compliance.

Rigorous Sampling Should Demonstrate to Verify Soil Quality Post-Remediation:

Elimination of contaminant types previously present

Contaminant levels below NJ safety thresholds

Widespread selection across the entire site, not just portions

With data validating site restoration, regulatory officials can conclusively approve projects.

Promoting Responsible Remediation for NJ's Future

By leveraging soil cleanup methods proven effective for the scenario at hand. The sites are impacted by historical contamination. It can have renewed purpose while boosting environmental well-being and public confidence.

Choose contractors committed to transparency, compliance, and stewardship through responsive soil remediation and Oil Tank Service NJ benefitting your piece of New Jersey for generations ahead.

Orange, NJ, Has Excellent Schools

Orange, NJ, has excellent schools. South Orange is like many towns in northern New Jersey; it has excellent schools. It's a wonderful place to raise children. A school for children from kindergarten through first grade to higher grade levels is available. Some schools are Marshall Elementary School for children in kindergarten through second grade, South Mountain Elementary for kindergarten through fifth grade, an Early Childhood Center for preschoolers, and South Orange Middle School, the primary school in South Orange. Niche.com ranked Columbia High School, which accepts students from Maplewood and South Orange, is ranked among the best school district in Essex County. Additionally, Seton Hall University, a private Catholic institution, ranked among the 2020 Best Colleges by U.S. News & World Report, which is located in South Orange, a college town.

Housekeeping For Hotels Or Disinfection In Orange, NJ

K&J Pronto Cleaning LLC is the No.1 service provider for housekeeping for hotels or disinfection in Orange, NJ. Their commercial disinfectant cleaning has been tested and is approved for use against COVID-19 and other viruses and bacteria. Also, their disinfection services use sterilization techniques to kill 99.99% of infections, microscopic organisms, parasites, and different microbes. The prepared specialists wear full Private Defensive Gear (PPE) during the disinfection. Your commercial space will be so clean for its occupants. You can instantly view personalized pricing on their website using their live pricing and real-time booking pages to tailor your commercial disinfectant cleaning to your specific requirements. You will also receive an instant text or email confirmation if you book online or by calling them. You can also save money by scheduling regular cleaning. For inquiry, call (551) 2149-555.

Branch Brook Park in Orange, NJ

The nation's first county park, Branch Brook Park, is in the North Ward of Newark, between the Forest Hill and Roseville neighborhoods. I love that this recreation area is situated inside the Municipality of Belleville. The park is famous for having the most cherry blossom trees anywhere in the United States. Multiple points of entry into the park from Downtown Newark are provided by the Newark Light Rail, which runs along the park's west side. The New Jersey National Registers of Historic Places include Branch Brook Park in 198 - 1981; that's why until now, Branch Brook Park is still one of the most visited parks in the country. It stands out because it was the first county park in the United States to open to the public. The park has an average width of 1/4 mile and a length of nearly 4 miles. It is the County's largest developed park, covering 360 acres. It combines open meadowland and small woodland patches on gently rolling terrain.

Orange, NJ, Leap Into Spring

The East Orange City Council, the Department of Recreation and Cultural Affairs, and Mayor Ted R. Green celebrate spring's arrival with many family-friendly events. A complete list of city-sponsored events can be found here. On Sunday, April 2, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at Columbian Park Easter Basket Giveaway, where you can win gift baskets that you can grab and go with lots of treats! Patch provides free, real-time updates about what's happening in West Orange, on Thursday, April 6, from 4:00 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Rowley Park Easter Party with Mr. Bunny photos, an egg hunt, face painting, snacks, and Easter crafts, among other things. Saturday, April 8, at Elmwood Park's "Leap into Spring" Celebration from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. There will be a huge egg hunt, train rides, bouncy houses, rock climbing, music, food, games, giveaways of bicycles and gift cards, raffle prizes, and more! Saturday, April 8, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Soverel Park, there will be an Easter Egg Hunt with prizes, face painting, music, photos with Mrs. Bunny, and snacks. Read more.

Link to maps

Branch Brook Park & Park Avenue, Lake St, Newark, NJ 07104, United States Get on I-280 W from Park Ave, 1st St and 2nd St 4 min (1.2 mi) Follow I-280 W to Northfield Ave in West Orange. Take exit 10 from I-280 W 4 min (3.2 mi) Take Valley Rd, S Jefferson St and Scotland Rd to Beach St in City of Orange 6 min (1.5 mi)

K&J Pronto Cleaning LLC 545 Beach St, City of Orange, NJ 07050, USA

New Jersey State Microbe

Nice press coverage. Thank you Infectious Disease News!

Read it here:

https://www.healio.com/infectious-disease/antimicrobials/news/online/%7Bc571bc7f-8414-4648-ab27-b69791a92b48%7D/qa-new-jersey-chooses-a-state-microbe?page=3

Twitter @WarholScience

Cultivated seaweed can soak up excess nutrients plaguing human health and marine life

https://sciencespies.com/environment/cultivated-seaweed-can-soak-up-excess-nutrients-plaguing-human-health-and-marine-life/

Cultivated seaweed can soak up excess nutrients plaguing human health and marine life

It’s easy to think that more nutrients — the stuff life needs to grow and thrive — would foster more vibrant ecosystems. Yet nutrient pollution has in fact wrought havoc on marine systems, contributing to harmful algae blooms, worse water quality and oxygen-poor dead zones.

A team of researchers from UC Santa Barbara has proposed a novel strategy for reducing large amounts of nutrients — specifically nitrogen and phosphorus — after they have already been released into the environment. In a study appearing in the journal Marine Policy, the authors contend that seaweed’s incredible ability to draw nutrients from the water could provide an efficient and cost-effective solution. Looking at the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, the team identified over 63,000 square kilometers suitable for seaweed aquaculture.

“A key goal of conservation ecology is to understand and maintain the natural balance of ecosystems, because human activity tends to tip things out of balance,” said co-author Darcy Bradley, co-director of the Ocean and Fisheries Program at the university’s Environmental Markets Lab. Activities on land, like industrial-scale farming, send lots of nutrients into waterways where they accumulate and flow into the ocean in greater quantities than they naturally would.

Opportunistic algae and microbes take advantage of the glut of nutrients, which fuel massive blooms. This growth can have all kinds of consequences, from producing biotoxins to smothering habitats in virtual monocultures. And while these algae produce oxygen when they’re alive, they die so suddenly and in such volume that their rapid decomposition consumes all the available oxygen in the water, transforming huge swaths of the ocean into so-called “dead zones.”

Cultivated seaweed could draw down available nutrients, the authors claim, limiting the resources for unchecked growth of nuisance algae and microbes. Seaweeds also produce oxygen, which could alleviate the development of hypoxic dead zones.

The authors analyzed data from the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, which they say exemplifies the challenges associated with nutrient pollution. More than 800 watersheds across 32 states deliver nutrients to the Gulf, which has led to a growing low-oxygen dead zone. In 2019, this dead zone stretched just over 18,000 square kilometers, slightly smaller than the area of New Jersey.

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Cortez grunt fish swim beneath a “red tide” algae bloom near the Bat Islands in Costa Rica’s Santa Rosa National Park. Cortez grunt fish swim beneath a “red tide” algae bloom near the Bat Islands in Costa Rica’s Santa Rosa National Park. Blooms like these can release biotoxins and create oxygen-poor dead zones in the ocean.

Using open-source oceanographic and human-use data, the team identified areas of the gulf suitable for seaweed cultivation. They found roughly 9% of the United States’ exclusive economic zone in the gulf could support seaweed aquaculture, particularly off the west coast of Florida.

“Cultivating seaweed in less than 1% of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico could potentially reach the country’s pollution reduction goals that, for decades, have been difficult to achieve,” said lead author Phoebe Racine, a Ph.D. candidate at UCSB’s Bren School of Environmental Science & Management.

“Dealing with nutrient pollution is difficult and expensive,” Bradley added. The U.S. alone spends more than $27 billion every year on wastewater treatment.

Many regions employ water quality trading programs to manage this issue. In these cap-and-trade systems regulators set a limit on the amount of a pollutant that can be released, and then entities trade credits in a market. Water quality trading programs exist all over the U.S., though they are often small, bespoke and can be ephemeral. That said, they show a lot of promise and, according to Racine, have bipartisan support.

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Seaweed aquaculture would fit nicely within these initiatives. “Depending on farming costs and efficiency, seaweed aquaculture could be financed by water quality trading markets for anywhere between $2 and $70 per kilogram of nitrogen removed,” Racine said, “which is within range of observed credit prices in existing markets.”

What’s more, the researchers note that demand is rising for seaweed in food and industry sectors. Potential products include biofuel, fertilizer and food, depending on the water quality, Racine said. This means that, unlike many remediation strategies, seaweed aquaculture could pay for itself or even generate revenue.

And the time seems ripe for the authors’ proposal. “The U.S. has traditionally had a lot of barriers to getting aquaculture in the ocean,” Bradley explained. “But there is mounting political support in the form of drafted bills and a signed executive order that could catalyze the expansion of the U.S. aquaculture industry.”

This study is the first of several to come out of the Seaweed Working Group, an interdisciplinary group of researchers looking to understand and chart the potential of seaweed aquaculture’s benefits to society. They are currently investigating a range of other ecosystem services that seaweed cultivation could provide, such as benefits to surrounding fisheries and carbon capture. The researchers are also working on a paper that explores nitrogen and phosphorous removal at the national level with fine-scale scale analysis modeling nutrient removal from native seaweeds off the coast of Florida.

As long as humans continue adding nutrients to the environment, nature will find ways to use them. By deliberately cultivating seaweeds, we can grow algae that we know are benign, helpful, or even potentially useful, rather than the opportunistic algae that currently draw upon these excess nutrients.

#Environment

Top Shopping Centers in MARLTON, NJ 08053

In Marlton the population was spread out, with 23.5% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 34.8% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 91.2 males.If you want to visit the top shopping centers in Marlton. Then we mention below  the top shopping centers in Marlton:

Marlton Crossing: This shopping plaza has quite a few stores that we shop at all at one location. It is located at 101 NJ-73, Marlton, NJ 08053, United States.

Marlton Square: Marlton Square, a Lifestyle Center located on the corner of Route 73 and Route 70 in Marlton, New Jersey, includes an impressive tenant line-up such as Trader Joe's, The Gap, Gap Kids, Janie and Jack, Chico's, Victoria's Secret, Starbucks, Ethan Allen, Turning Point Café, Billig Jewelers, Monroe & Kent, and Heart + Paw. It is located at 300 NJ-73, Marlton, NJ 08053, United States.

Marlton Commons: Marlton Commons serves the local communities of Marlton, Cherry Hill, Moorestown, Medford, Voorhees and Maple Shade. Located in a heavily trafficked retail corridor surrounded by a magnitude of national retailers makes this a regional shopping destination. It is located at 307 W Rte 70, Marlton, NJ 08053, United States.

Member Spotlight

Phone: (272) 222-8776

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: https://aacctpro.com/

AACCTPRO is one of the best Sanitation Companies in Marlton, NJ. They provide antimicrobial treatment for commercial facilities to eliminate the formation and retention of microbes on a surface. To learn more about the company you can visit the above mentioned website.

Dr. Praeger’s Purely Sensible Foods, a privately held maker of veggie burgers and meat alternatives based in New Jersey, saw the crisis swelling in the New York region in mid-March. Seeking to stay ahead of it, Larry Praeger, a co-founder and the chief executive, took a series of swift actions that prioritized sanitation and social distancing in the company’s factory. In San Francisco, Hint Water was facing its own challenges. Though the company’s automated manufacturing facilities were less vulnerable to disruption, Hint had to figure out what to do with its employees who usually spend their days handing out samples at grocery stores and events. Kara Goldin, the Hint founder and chief executive, redeployed those staff members, and has managed to avoid layoffs. Both Dr. Praeger’s and Hint are now hiring. This conversation, which was condensed and edited for clarity, was part of a series of new live Corner Office calls discussing the crisis. Visit timesevents.nytimes.com to join upcoming calls. DAVID GELLES Kara, when was it that you realized this was going to be something that disrupted your business in pretty fundamental ways, and what steps did you start taking to adjust? KARA GOLDIN On March 13, I flew to San Francisco and stopped in a local store on my way home. I noticed that their supply of Hint had been depleted. While I had heard about hoarding starting and people were really stocking up, I really hadn’t pieced together the effect that that would have on our own brand. At that point, I reached out to our sales team and our supply chain and basically said, “I don’t know what’s going on, but I’ve now stopped into a second store just to see, and it’s a consistent pattern. We’re either very low or out of stock on a bunch of our flavors.” That weekend, we were pretty quick to reach out to our grocery buyers throughout the country and say, “Hey, if we are out of stock and there’s some sort of hiccup in your supply chain, or you guys are inundated with doing a lot of other stuff right now, we’re more than willing to jump in and send trucks in direct to you.” And many of them actually jumped on that, just to be able to stock their shelves. GELLES Larry, right around the same time, you also started to recognize that this was going to have an impact. Your company is based in New Jersey, and you took pretty dramatic action quite early. What did you do to try to stay ahead of this? LARRY PRAEGER Our manufacturing facility is based out of northern New Jersey, and we were having similar discussions about what we needed to do. A priority was really to make sure that we had a safe working environment for all our factory workers, as well as the people that were in the office. So around March 18, we did take a bit of a drastic step and closed down our factory for four days. That was to try to do a heavy sanitizing of the building and the manufacturing facility, but also to give us some time to really come up with a plan so that, when we reopened, we could bring back our factory workers and feel safe about doing it. Now we’re taking temperatures when people enter the facility, we’re providing masks and gloves for all the employees, we’ve increased the cleaning in the factory, we have heavy sanitation in high-touch areas, and we’ve added space in the break and lunchroom spaces, and set up some satellite break and lunchroom spaces. The one thing that we really wanted to instill in the employees was to make sure that they understood that if they weren’t feeling well, they should not come into work, and their job wasn’t in jeopardy. The most important thing, as a first line of defense, was to have them not come to work. If people aren’t coming to work sick, then you have less to worry about in your facility. GELLES Kara, you have manufacturing lines in the United States as well. What changes did you make, if any? GOLDIN We have multiple bottling facilities throughout the U.S., and we were actually very well set up. We pasteurize our product because we’re not using preservatives, and the actual location where it’s being filled is a clean room, so there’s no people in there when it’s going through the process of killing any microbes. So there has not been a dramatic change in the way that we’re filling. GELLES Larry, despite the precautions you took, at least four of your employees have tested positive for the virus, including some who worked inside your factory. What happens when factory workers at a food company test positive for this virus? What steps have you taken to ensure that their illness didn’t become a problem for the business? PRAEGER We’ve had about four or five cases. Those people are quarantining at home for 14 days. And we’ve actually had one person who’s come back since then. They saw a doctor and have a doctor’s note that confirms that they’re OK. GELLES Has this caused any disruptions to your manufacturing? PRAEGER It’s definitely slowed down some of the manufacturing. In addition to the confirmed cases, we probably have another about 12 to 15 cases where people have had symptoms and they’ve stayed home because of that, or because they have no child care. It’s definitely a challenge. We’re definitely not running as efficiently as we used to be. But that’s OK, as long as it’s a safe environment. GELLES Kara, Hint employs a large marketing team that goes to events and in stores to hand out samples. What are they doing in the midst of all this? GOLDIN We have about 200 people in the company, and that same weekend in March, we decided that it probably wasn’t a great idea to have our team handing out sample cups. I don’t know how you can stay six feet apart in that case. So we decided to reallocate those people into sales and other roles, and we haven’t furloughed or laid anybody off. GELLES Larry, did Dr. Praeger’s see a spike in demand as people stocked up? If so, were you able to meet it? PRAEGER Starting in March, we saw a big uptick in purchases at the retail level, supermarket level and club channel level. It was across the board, from veggie burgers to chickenless tenders to products for kids. We’ve seen that come down a little bit in April. But our food service division, which is mostly selling to restaurants and hotels, has seen a huge decline. In March, we saw it head way down, and now we’re seeing probably close to 70 percent decline in comparison to the prior year. GELLES Kara, people haven’t hoarded flavored water in quite the same way they have hoarded toilet paper, but what have you seen on the demand side? GOLDIN The good news for the business was the hoarding, to some extent, in the grocery businesses and really stocking up on Hint. We’ve seen that start to slow in retail stores, but we’ve actually seen it pick up in other areas that we know where people are going into stores, including Instacart. And our direct-to-consumer business, which is DrinkHint.com and Amazon, has gone up a crazy amount. I mean over 100 percent. In times like these, it’s really about convenience and what the customer wants to do. GELLES Larry, you have a complex supply chain, with lots of different ingredients, the need for cold storage and shipping all around the country. What disruptions have you seen to your supply chain, be it on the materials side or on the delivery? PRAEGER We’re seeing costs going up on vegetables because people in the farms are not working as well, or there are a limited amount of people. And the freight prices coming in have been increasing. But the supply chain over all, so far, has been pretty steady. GELLES What advice would you give to someone who’s currently looking for a job? GOLDIN You should work for companies that you’re really passionate about, that you really believe are doing things that you want to be doing every single day. I’ve talked to a few people that I know that, before, were just working for companies that they didn’t necessarily believe in or enjoy, and they got furloughed. Now they’re looking at it as another chance to just go and try and figure things out. So, if that’s you in this situation, try and figure out, “What is the perfect thing that I want to be doing? What company do I want to support to really go and be that company that I want to invest in?” Maybe you started moving up in that company, getting paid too much money, whatever it is, and now this is an opportunity to go and reset a little bit. GELLES When this is over, what’s the biggest change that you’ll be making at your companies? PRAEGER The biggest change will definitely be moving more toward some of this distancing that we’ve done in the factory. It would have been a benefit to really come into the crisis having those kinds of systems set up. GOLDIN We had already set up for direct-to-consumer and Amazon and some of these other services. But as we see consumers’ habits changing, we will be looking at growing those businesses, working closer with an Instacart and just making it faster, quicker and easier for the consumer to get our product. The post How They Keep the Flavored Water and Veggie Burgers Coming appeared first on Sansaar Times.

http://sansaartimes.blogspot.com/2020/05/how-they-keep-flavored-water-and-veggie.html

#1yrago New Jersey contemplates an official state microbe

Five years after Oregon designated Saccharomyces cerevisia (AKA brewer's yeast) as its official state microbe, the New Jersey senate has unanimously passed S1729, which names Streptomyces griseus (which produces a powerful antibiotic and was discovered at Rutgers) to high state honor -- now the microbe bill goes to the state assembly and thence to the governor. (Image: Docwarhol, CC-BY-SA)

https://boingboing.net/2018/07/31/everything-is-legal-in-nj.html

294.

What is your favorite thing about Mac computers? >> I don’t have a favourite thing about this era’s Mac computers, but my first computer was a Macintosh and I liked how easy it was to master the ins and outs of the OS. They used to be very simple and straightforward operating systems; don’t know if that still holds true, since I haven’t used a Mac since the great Apple overhaul.

What is your favorite thing about PCs? >> It used to be the level of customisation you could do -- Rainmeter was a lot of fun to play with when I had WinXP and Win7. They cut that potential with this Xbox-y interface, though, so I don’t really have a favourite thing about Windows anymore. I use it because it’s what’s most accessible, and because I like to play PC games.

What are some errands you need to run soon? >> ---

Have your parents ever tried to convince people there was something wrong with you, when they're "diagnosis" wasn't accurate? >> Not that I know of. My father just believed the shit that the crack psychologists in the city hospital told him, because he didn’t know any better. Which wasn’t necessarily his fault, but god, did it suck for me.

What was the last really good book you read, and what was it about? >> I liked Everything is Fucked by Mark Manson. I think he has interestingly pragmatic things to say.

What year do you want to go back to? >> No.

List 3 of your best memories, times you wish you could go back and repeat. >> No.

What color was your high school graduation gown? >> I don’t remember. I barely remember graduating.

How many graduation gowns have you worn? >> One.

Are your parents' dreams for you life different than your own? >> Obviously my parent had a completely different child in mind whenever he thought about me. He had no concept of who I actually was or who I might become.

Do your parents' dreams for you life change? >> ---

Have your dreams for your life changed? >> I don’t know if I ever had any actual, concrete dreams for my life. Fantasies, sure, but not like... aspirations. And I still don’t.

What are your dreams now? >> I dream of having good, mildly eventful days, and of being strong enough to weather the bad days with grace and self-compassion.

What was your dream as a child? >> Like I said in the question before last...

Are you offended at anyone right now? >> No.

Do you feel safe in your country? >> More or less. I mean, no one’s actively coming to kill me or make it impossible for me to live, and I’ve never really had that experience, so I guess I feel safe.

If applicable, do you feel safe at your school? >> ---

Would you ever want to learn sign language? >> I am learning sign language, incidentally.

What color is the sweatshirt you wear the most? >> I wear hoodies the most.

What's the last thing you had for dinner? >> A veggie burger and chips, because variety is apparently not the spice of my everyday life these days. (Not because I don’t enjoy variety -- I very much do -- but because variety is a bit beyond my capabilities at this time.)

How many meals do you eat a day? >> Two, on average.

What is your favorite Irish song? >> I don’t particularly have one, but there’s this one song I heard on youtube a while ago that I really, really enjoyed. It’s called Óró Sé do Bheatha Bhaile and you can listen to the version I heard here.

Do you own any succulents? >> Not personally, but I think Sparrow has one somewhere in the living room.

Who do you miss? >> Neh.

What color are your walls? >> Some sort of off-white.

What color were the walls in the bedroom you grew up in? >> I don’t remember.

What was the last song you listened to on repeat? >> Sam Cooke’s A Change is Gonna Come. I was drunk and having a moment.

What is your favorite style (or styles) of dance? >> All of them, really. I’m easily entranced by dance.

Have you ever performed a solo dance in front of a crowd? >> No.

Have you ever sung a solo? >> No. I am a passable singer, good in a choir and great at karaoke, but not the kind of singer that you’d go to if you want a solo.

Which insects are you afraid of? >> Wasps and suchnot.

Do you think it's silly to be afraid of an insect, when it's so tiny? >> No, I don’t think it’s silly at all. Tiny insects kill big humans all the time. Infinitesimally small microbes do too. Size is no direct indicator of threat.

Do you sleep with a teddy bear? >> I sleep with two teddy bears, a dog, a space turtle, and an otter.

Who would you like to talk to right now? >> Neh.

When was the last time you had a deep conversation with someone? >> I don’t remember. What even is a deep conversation anymore? I’m losing my ability to hold one from sheer lack of practice. But outworld aside, I do have them with Can Calah all the time.

Do you feel like anyone really knows you? >> Aside from inworlders, no.

What are you waiting for? >> Hm?

Where do you feel the most at home? >> In my room. Because it’s the only environment I can control.

What do you feel the most at home doing? >> *shrug*

Are you a free spirit? >> Sure.

Do you wish you were in a different social class? >> Actually, I really don’t. Living amongst the middle class and middle class-adjacent has definitely proven to me that despite the socioeconomic struggles, there is nothing about me as a person that would be improved by being middle or upper class. Maybe if I’d grown up that way I’d feel different, but that’s the thing -- I didn’t. 

What was the last job you had? >> ---

What was your first job? >> ---

What was your favorite job that you've had? >> ---

Who was/were your favorite coworker(s)? >> ---

What grade were you in when you had your first crush? >> ---

At what age did you start experiencing sexual attraction, if any? >> Oh, I don’t remember, man.

Have you ever split open a rock with a hammer, to see the glitter inside? >> No.

What type of tree do you see the most of where you live? >> I’m not sure. I’m not good at tree identification. I know there’s a fair mix of evergreens and... the other kind... and that’s it.

Where is your favorite place you've lived? >> Hm.

What states have you lived in? >> New Jersey, North Carolina, New York, Colorado, Michigan.

What countries have you lived in? >> Just this one.

Do you wish you were someone else? >> Nope. I only know how to be myself, and there’s nothing gained from not wanting to be myself.

Do you wish you had been born the opposite gender? >> Do I wish I’d been born the opposite sex? Occasionally, but like I said, I only know how to be myself, in this body. I don’t always enjoy it, but it’s silly to imagine I’d somehow be happier in a different one. Dissatisfaction is somehow human. What I want is to have no reproductive organs at all (and no secondary sex characteristics), but I can’t afford either of those procedures.

Which holiday is coming up next? >> Independence Day.

What is your favorite holiday? >> Christmas.

What is your birth month? >> May.

What month is it now? >> June.

What is your favorite thing about the month in which it is now? >> It’s the first summer month.

Who were your best friends in high school? >> ---

^Are they still your best friends now? >> ---

Do you live near the mountains? >> No.

Do you live near a beach? >> A freshwater beach, yeah. We’re about an hour’s drive from Lake Michigan.

What is your favorite beach that you've been to? >> I don’t have a favourite. They were all kind of the same to me. But I do have a lot of memories at Brighton Beach and thereabouts, so when I think about beaches, that’s where my mind goes first.

Do you collect seashells? >> No.

If you were to start a new collection, what would it be? >> I wouldn’t.

If you had to pick one year and describe it as the best year of your life that you want to relive again, which year would it be? and what made it so great? >> No. 

Is your worldview the same as your parents'? >> Not even a little bit.

Is your worldview the same as most of the people around you? >> From what I can gather, it doesn’t seem so.

If you were to get a tattoo, what would it be of? >> I have several ideas that I’d like to get done.

What color are your glasses, if applicable? >> ---

What color do you like to paint your nails for Easter? >> I don’t paint my nails for Easter.

within the past 5 minutes i learned that there are states with Official State Microbes and new jersey’s is a microbe from manure that got the nobel prize and if that ain’t jersey idk what to tell you

1) Microbes

Untreated water can host plenty of harmful bacteria and viruses. That’s why starting in the early 1900s, U.S. cities began disinfecting their drinking water with chlorine. Afterward, rates of waterborne disease, such as cholera (KAH-lur-uh) and typhoid (TY-foid), dropped sharply. Typhoid, caused by a type of Salmonella bacteria, used to sicken one in every 1,000 people in 1900. By 2006, the rate was down to one in every million.

2) By-products of disinfection

Chlorine and bromine can kill many dangerous waterborne germs. But these disinfectants also can react with other chemicals in the water. The results may be new and dangerous by-products. One that can show up: chloroform. This chemical is toxic to the kidneys, liver and brain.

3) Industrial chemicals

Many companies use perfluorinated (Per-FLOR-ih-nay-ted) compounds, or PFCs, to make everything from nonstick coatings (like Teflon) to firefighting foams. They are so widely used that these chemicals have been showing up in water. They also are hard to remove from drinking water and hard to track.

With super-strong chemical bonds between their carbon and fluorine atoms, these pollutants won’t break down naturally in the environment. And water treatment plants were never designed to remove them.

Some research has linked PFCs to a higher risk of certain cancers, to learning problems, to growth deficits and to fertility problems. Close to 5,000 different PFCs exist today, very few of which are regulated, says Jamie DeWitt. She’s a toxicologist at East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C. Chemical companies are not required to report what they use if that chemical isn’t already regulated, she notes. In June 2018, a report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggested lowering exposure limits for some PFCs below current federal guidelines. Some states, including New Jersey and Vermont, have set such stricter limits.

4) Arsenic

Arsenic is a concern for the two in every 15 U.S. residents who draw their drinking water from private wells instead of city water systems. Arsenic occurs naturally. It also can get into groundwater from its use in agriculture or mining. Exposure to high levels of this element has been linked to skin, bladder and lung cancers. It also can lower IQ and trigger birth defects. An estimated 2 million people or more in the United States may be exposed to levels of arsenic above the federal limit of 10 parts per billion. That’s according to a 2017 report in Environmental Science and Technology.

5) Nitrates

Nitrates are commonly used as a plant fertilizer. So these pollutants can enter water when rains run off of farms and fertilized lawns. In excess, these chemicals can prevent red blood cells from carrying enough oxygen around the body. The Clean Water Act of 1972 limits factories from polluting waterways. Farms pollution, however, is largely unregulated.

Scientists Say: Runoff

Farming states like Iowa have been hardest hit by nitrate pollution, says Christopher Jones. He’s an engineer at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. Curbing this pollution has proven difficult. For instance, the Mississippi River is a source of drinking water for several U.S. states. Yet despite a decade of work to reduce nitrates entering this river, nitrate levels in waters getting Iowa runoff are consistently higher today than they were 20 years ago. Jones reported the finding in April 2018 in PLOS ONE.

6) Lead

To protect kids, get the lead out!

Lead pipes still carry water within 11,000 U.S. communities. These provide tap water to some 15 million to 22 million people. That’s according to a 2016 survey by the American Water Works Association. Very acidic or corrosive water can leach lead from plumbing pipes. That’s why the EPA mandates that cities adjust water chemistry to minimize such leaching. But those control measures are not foolproof. For instance, the Flint, Mich., lead crisis occurred when the city switched to a more corrosive source of drinking water, but didn’t adjust the chemicals used to compensate. Some communities have committed to replacing every lead water line — a very costly measure.

1. Helps Keep Your Immune System Humming

"Physically dynamic individuals require less days off," says Yvonne K. Fulbright, PhD a sexual wellbeing master.

Individuals who have intercourse have more elevated levels of what guards your body against microbes, infections, and different gatecrashers. Scientists at Wilkes University in Pennsylvania observed that undergrads who had intercourse more than once per week had more elevated levels of the a specific immunizer contrasted with understudies who engaged in sexual relations on rare occasions.

You should in any case do the wide range of various things that satisfy your resistant framework, for example,

Eat right. Remain dynamic. Get sufficient rest. Stay aware of your immunizations. Utilize a condom on the off chance that you don't know both of your STD situations with.

2. Helps Your Libido Yearning for an all the more energetic sexual coexistence? "Engaging in sexual relations will improve sex and will work on your charisma," says Lauren Streicher, MD. She is an associate clinical teacher of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.

For ladies, having intercourse ups vaginal oil, blood stream, and versatility, she says, all of which help sex to have an improved outlook and assist you with hankering a greater amount of it.

3. Works on Women's Bladder Control A solid pelvic floor is significant for staying away from incontinence, something that will influence around 30% of ladies sooner or later in their lives.

Great sex resembles an exercise for your pelvic floor muscles. At the point when you have a climax, it causes withdrawals in those muscles, which fortifies them.

4. Brings down Your Blood Pressure Research proposes a connection among sex and lower pulse, says Joseph J. Pinzone, MD. He is CEO and clinical overseer of Amai Wellness.

"There have been many examinations," he says. "One milestone investigation discovered that sex explicitly (not masturbation) brought down systolic circulatory strain." That's the principal number on your pulse test.

Proposed

5. Considers Exercise "Sex is a truly incredible type of activity," Pinzone says. It will not supplant the treadmill, yet it means something.

Sex utilizes around five calories each moment, four a larger number of calories than staring at the TV. It gives you a knockout punch: It knocks up your pulse and uses different muscles.

So get going! You might even need to clear your timetable to set aside a few minutes for it consistently. "Like with work out, consistency expands the advantages," Pinzone says.

6. Brings down Heart Attack Risk A decent sexual coexistence is great for your heart. Other than being an incredible method for raising your pulse, sex helps keep your estrogen and testosterone levels in balance.

"At the point when both of those is low you start to get loads of issues, similar to osteoporosis and even coronary illness," Pinzone says.

Having intercourse all the more frequently may help. During one review, men who had intercourse somewhere around double seven days were half as liable to pass on from coronary illness as men who engaged in sexual relations seldom.

7. Diminishes Pain Before you go after an ibuprofen, pursue a climax.

"Climax can hinder torment," says Barry R. Komisaruk, PhD, a recognized assistance teacher at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. It delivers a chemical that helps raise your aggravation edge.

Feeling without climax can likewise get the job done. "We've observed that vaginal excitement can obstruct ongoing back and leg torment, and numerous ladies have let us know that genital self-feeling can diminish feminine issues, joint torment, and now and again even cerebral pain," Komisaruk says.

8. May Make Prostate Cancer Less Likely Going for the zeal might help avert prostate disease.

Men who discharged often (somewhere around 21 times each month) were more averse to get prostate disease during one review, which was distributed in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

You needn't bother with an accomplice to receive this reward: Sexual intercourse, nighttime emanation, and masturbation were all essential for the situation.

Obviously sex was the main explanation that made a difference in that review. Bunches of elements influence disease hazard. Be that as it may, more sex won't do any harm.

Proposed

9. Further develops Sleep You might fall asleep more rapidly after sex, and understandably.

"After climax, the chemical prolactin is delivered, which is answerable for the sensations of unwinding and lethargy" after sex, says Sheenie Ambardar, MD. She is a therapist in West Hollywood, Calif.

10. Facilitates Stress Being near your accomplice can mitigate pressure and tension.

Ambardar says contacting and embracing can deliver your body's normal "feel-great chemical." Sexual excitement delivers a mind synthetic that fires up your cerebrum's pleasure and prize framework.

Sex and closeness can support your confidence and satisfaction, as well, Ambardar says. It's a remedy for a solid life, yet entirely a cheerful one.

45 Days until we get a new State Symbol

More info: https://www.knowpia.com/pages/State_microbes

Twitter @WarholScience

Amazing microbiology book: Dr Warhol’s Periodic Table  of Microbes, The Small Guide to Small Things. https://tinyurl.com/Warhol-Small-Guide

10 Sex Benefits for Good Life

Sex not just feels better. It can likewise be beneficial for you. This is what a solid sexual coexistence can accomplish for you.

1. Helps Keep Your Immune System Humming

"Physically dynamic individuals require fewer days off," says Yvonne K. Fulbright, Ph.D. sexual wellbeing master.

Individuals who have intercourse have more elevated levels of what protects your body against microbes, infections, and different interlopers. Specialists at Wilkes University in Pennsylvania observed that undergrads who had intercourse a few times per week had more elevated levels of the specific neutralizer contrasted with understudies who engaged in sexual relations less frequently.

You should in any case do a wide range of various things that satisfy your insusceptible framework, for example,

·        Eat right.

·        Remain dynamic.

·        Get sufficient rest.

·        Stay aware of your immunizations.

·        Utilize a condom if you don't know both of your STD situations.

2. Supports Your Libido

Aching for an all the more energetic sexual coexistence? "Engaging in sexual relations will improve sex and will work on your charisma," says Lauren Streicher, MD. She is a colleague clinical educator of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.

For ladies, having intercourse ups vaginal grease, bloodstream, and versatility, she says, all of which help sex to have an improved outlook and assist you with needing a greater amount of it.

3. Works on Women's Bladder Control

A solid pelvic floor is significant for staying away from incontinence, something that will influence around 30% of ladies eventually in their lives.

Great sex resembles an exercise for your pelvic floor muscles. At the point when you have a climax, it causes withdrawals in those muscles, which fortifies them.

4. Brings down Your Blood Pressure

Research recommends a connection between sex and lower pulse, says Joseph J. Pinzone, MD. He is CEO and clinical head of Amai Wellness.

"There have been many investigations," he says. "One milestone investigation discovered that sex explicitly (not masturbation) brought down systolic circulatory strain." That's the principal number on your pulse test.

5. Considers Exercise

"Sex is a truly extraordinary type of activity," Pinzone says. It will not supplant the treadmill, however, it means something.

 Sex utilizes around five calories each moment, four a bigger number of calories than sitting in front of the TV. It gives you a knockout punch: It knocks up your pulse and uses different muscles.

So get going! You might even need to clear your timetable to set aside a few minutes for it consistently. "Like with work out, consistency expands the advantages," Pinzone says.

6. Brings down Heart Attack Risk

A decent sexual coexistence is useful for your heart. Other than being an extraordinary method for raising your pulse, sex helps keep your estrogen and testosterone levels in balance.

"At the point when both of those is low you start to get heaps of issues, similar to osteoporosis and even coronary illness," Pinzone says.

Having intercourse all the more frequently may help. During one review, men who engaged in sexual relations in some measure double seven days were half as prone to pass on of coronary illness as men who had intercourse once in a blue moon.

7. Decreases Pain

Before you go after a headache medicine, pursue a climax.

"Climax can hinder torment," says Barry R. Komisaruk, Ph.D., a recognized assistance educator at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. It delivers a chemical that helps raise your aggravation edge.

Incitement without climax can likewise get the job done. "We've observed that vaginal incitement can impede ongoing back and leg torment, and numerous ladies have let us know that genital self-incitement can decrease feminine spasms, ligament torment, and at times even migraine," Komisaruk says.

8. May Make Prostate Cancer Less Likely

Going for the energy might assist ward with offing prostate disease.

Men who were discharged regularly (something like 21 times each month) were more averse to getting the prostate disease during one review, which was distributed in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

You needn't bother with an accomplice to receive this reward: Sexual intercourse, nighttime outflow, and masturbation were all essential for the situation.

Sex was the main explanation that made a difference in that review. Bunches of elements influence disease hazards. Be that as it may, more sex won't do any harm.

9. Further develops Sleep

You might fall asleep more rapidly later sex and in light of current circumstances.

"Later climax, the chemical prolactin is delivered, which is liable for the sensations of unwinding and drowsiness" later sex, says Sheenie Ambardar, MD. She is a specialist in West Hollywood, Calif.

10. Facilitates Stress

Being near your accomplice can mitigate pressure and tension.

Ambardar says contacting and embracing can deliver your body's regular "feel-great chemical." Sexual excitement delivers a cerebrum synthetic that fires up your mind's pleasure and prize framework.

Sex and closeness can help your confidence and satisfaction, as well, Ambardar says. It's a remedy for a solid life, yet a cheerful one. You can avail all the benefits by using Ayurvedic Sex Medicine for your healthy sex life