Daily Archives: May 20, 2021

When Crystal Rodriguez made an appointment for the Pfizer vaccine at a local clinic, her husband was hesitant to join her. He relented after a little nudging.

They both received their first dose with few side effects. Rodriguez felt a sense of relief as she went about her daily routine with her three children.

But by the time they were due to schedule their second dose, Rodriguezs husband had been influenced by his peers, by social media, she was not sure exactly what.

Somebody got to his head, the 33-year-old East Los Angeles resident said. Her husband refused to go.

Nationally, a third of unvaccinated Latinos say they want to get the shot as soon as possible a much higher share than unvaccinated Black or white people, according to a survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation.

They are eager to put an end to the pandemic that has disproportionately impacted their community with high rates of illness and death as well as financial struggles.

At the East Los Angeles Civic Center, St. Johns Well Child & Family Center the waiting area was empty on May 12.

(Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times)

But many are concerned about missing work because of side effects, have transportation difficulties or mistakenly believe they might have to pay for the vaccine, the Kaiser survey showed.

Vaccination rates are especially low among Latino men. In L.A. County, 39% had gotten at least one shot, compared to 59% of white men, as of May 9. Across demographics, women are more likely to get vaccinated than men, with about 46% of Latina women having gotten a shot.

Healthcare advocates are zeroing in on the issues that prevent Latino men from getting vaccinated, which range from misinformation to busy schedules, lack of familiarity with the healthcare system and fear of side effects.

Campaigns such as #VacunateYa on social media aim to educate people about the vaccines. Last Thursday, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced a bilingual vaccination campaign featuring celebrities such as actor Danny Trejo, music legend Pepe Aguilar and telenovela star Anglica Maria.

With Latinos making up nearly half of L.A. County and 39% of the states population, much is riding on the efforts. Latinos of both sexes have lower vaccination rates than whites and Asians and are about on par with Black residents statewide.

Ilan Shapiro, a physician involved in #VacunateYa, said communicating vaccination information to Latino audiences involves not just translating into Spanish, but connecting culturally and earning their trust.

Latino men are less likely to have health insurance or be health conscious compared to Latina women and to men in other demographics, he said.

Women are more often in need of emergency care for pregnancy, their children or other health issues, which builds a connection with the healthcare system. For men, that connection isnt always there, so a visit to the doctor often happens only as a last resort.

Men are not that good at going back to their doctors for preventative things, he said.

Tanya Mitchell, a certified medical assistant, goes over information with Raul Ayala, 18, of East Los Angeles, before giving him a vaccine.

(Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times)

Aura Ortiz, a medical assistant at an East L.A. vaccination clinic, echoed those worries. Far more women than men come in, she said. Many of the men arrive with their wives or families.

It is common for the Latino men to lack health insurance, she said. When she asks about their last doctors visit, they say they havent gone in two or three years.

Thats a contrast to the white residents she speaks with, most of whom see their doctors regularly and have health insurance even if they dont have serious conditions.

Ortiz said other factors are misinformation and general distrust of the vaccine due to its fast development.

They hear all these crazy rumors that arent true including that the vaccines cause infertility for both sexes, Ortiz said.

Rigoberto Aguia, a 43-year-old Long Beach resident, said he was unsure about going back for the second vaccine. The first one hurt his arm significantly, and the pain rushed up to his heart. The experience left him scared.

You dont know what theyre injecting in your arm, he said.

Aguia believes in a conspiracy theory known as the new world order the vaccine was developed by the government to eliminate weak or unproductive people, he said.

Aguia said hell probably go back for his second shot, but only because he thinks his job at a packing company will require it.

Rivera Fernando, also a Long Beach resident, hasnt gotten his vaccine, but for a different reason.

I havent had time, he said.

Fernando works at a Chilis restaurant and hasnt been able to take time off in two months. He recently booked an appointment but only because he is due for a regular checkup with his doctor for his diabetes.

Latino men are often heads of households, working multiple jobs to support their families. They dont have time to get vaccinated or to vet the information they come across, making them easy targets for rumors circling on social media, Shapiro said.

The main culprits are Facebook, WhatsApp and YouTube pages in both Spanish and English filled with conspiracy theories, alarmist news coverage or chismes gossip about vaccines causing problems.

We are all affected by this, but if youre already suffering and in a vulnerable position, and youre already having two or three jobs a lot of the double-checking just doesnt happen, he said. Its a really bad combination.

Rodriguez said she cant be certain what is influencing her husband. His only side effect from the first vaccine was a sore arm.

Everyone around them is pro-vaccine. All Rodriguezs sisters, cousins and friends are vaccinated, as are her husbands parents.

The anti-vaccine sentiments seem to be coming from her husbands peers and his social media, she said. Among these men, theres a feeling that they can handle it all, that they simply dont need the vaccine.

They think theyre macho and can conquer anything and get through stuff on their own, she said. You cant tell them anything.

She did her best to convince her husband to get his second dose. She urged him to think about their children, who will be at risk if he is only half-vaccinated. But his mind was made up.

Hes stubborn, said Rodriguez, who cares for their children full time, including one who is disabled. Im not going to argue with him.

In Vernon, an industrial city with a large number of Latino essential workers, mobile clinics are bringing the vaccine to factories and warehouses.

At Rose & Shore, a Vernon-based company that makes meals for schools and other agencies, one-third of employees declined to be vaccinated when the mobile clinic visited for the first time, said human resources representative Jacquie Cabrera.

Cabrera estimated that 60% of Rose & Shores workers are Latino men. She said many of them feared that the vaccine would impact their preexisting illnesses or conditions.

Many of them are scared, Cabrera said. Theyre hesitant because they think it may flare up what they have.

Jaime Guzman, 44, was one worker who took advantage of the mobile clinic. Guzman said he firmly believes in listening to health experts who spend years studying diseases so they can advise the public.

He has heard many whispers among men who are against the vaccine.

Many have a machista attitude or pay too much attention to social media, Guzman said. The biggest rumor he has encountered while speaking to colleagues and friends is that the vaccine affects sexual health.

Ive heard from a lot of men that theyre worried it will make them sexually impotent, he said. But Ive always thought, Theres a solution for everything except for death.

It takes just a few clicks to find a trove of misinformation on YouTube, he added.

Theres a lot of videos on YouTube that say the vaccine causes this or that, he said. There are a lot of people who arent experts uploading comments or videos for the likes.

Cabrera said she is working to schedule another mobile clinic at Rose & Shore after a number of employees who first rejected the vaccine changed their minds, possibly because they saw that their vaccinated colleagues had no issues.

In L.A. County, the average number of vaccine doses administered daily has fallen significantly in recent weeks a sign that many people eager and easily able to be vaccinated have already done so.

Doctors also worried that the lull was a result of distrust after reports that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine may be linked to rare blood clots.

That was the case for Martin Sanchez, 58, who after hearing the reports decided to wait longer to schedule his first appointment. He wanted to see whether anyone around him had a bad reaction.

I did have doubts, he said. J&J made me doubt that vaccine.

But while he had some reservations, he knew he would have to get the vaccine eventually. A single dad to five daughters, he is pre-diabetic and at increased risk of getting seriously ill with COVID-19.

When he was finally ready last week, he sought out the Pfizer vaccine at the East L.A. vaccination clinic where Ortiz works.

Sanchez, a hotel cafeteria employee, said a few friends and family members tried convincing him not to go. An aunt in his hometown in Mexico told him she read an article about a man who died after getting the vaccine.

After he made up his mind, he stopped paying attention to her. There might be a dozen stories about the benefits of the vaccine, but his family members cling to the one bad one, he said.

People see the bad stuff and not the benefits, he said. I try to pick out the positive.

Times staff writer Rong-Gong Lin II contributed to this report.

Visit link:

Many Latino men haven't gotten vaccinated. Misinformation, fear and busy lives are factors - Los Angeles Times

With confusion rising after GFRIEND leaving Source Music, its final today. Check out the translation of members letters here.

The news of GFRIEND ending their contract with their long time agency Source Music left the whole K-Pop community in shock. Everyone was left wondering why, and the others who werent, were left wondering about the future of the group. The agencys official statement on Weverse didnt specify any details of the group disbanding. However, it is now final that the top girl group, GFRIEND, will be disbanding on May 22, the day their contract ends.

Today, GFRIEND members took to Weverse to express gratitude to their BUDDYs (their fandom) with each member uploading a straight-out-of-heart handwritten letter. Among everyone, leader Sowon asked fans to not be sad because even though this is the end of GFRIEND, it is not the end for the members. The six members have parted ways and will focus on their own selves in the future. Read the members letters below:

UMJI

"Hello, this is GFriend's Umji.

I shared many things that have been a part of my daily life for six years and I'm both thankful and sad. Now my members and I will go through a new time.

When I started off, I was filled with a lot of ignorance and lack of knowledge, but it was a time of learning that made me realize many things and also reminded me of so many other things. Thank you so much for clapping, cheering and being happy for me in this process of growth. At the beginning of our debut, I felt like I was working hard without knowing where I was heading or what I was doing. After I had some time to look back, I could feel how hard I worked that I was on a great path, so I was able to thank and enjoy all the time and even the hard situations I faced while working.

Thank you for being the biggest reason for my heart, our fans BUDDY who I love so so much! No matter how hard I try to greet you, it hurts me to think of BUDDY who will try to find their hearts to wish us happiness, and I'm sorry I can't absorb it all together no matter how hard I try to imagine it.

I hope that my wish to hug all BUDDY who will be hurt by this unprepared farewell will reach even a little bit. Thank you and once again, thank you. I will continue to be thankful always. I think everything's the same, but I'm a little scared as I have to adapt to many unfamiliar times now. I'm going to work hard for everyone who looks at me and supports me.

Thank you so much for all the staff who worked hard for GFriend for the six years. Most of all, our precious members who I went through so many things together with. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have experienced everything. Thank you so much. I love you.

BUDDY, once again I miss you and I love you. I sincerely hope that you'll all be happy and free in the future. Thank you."

EUNHA

"I think this is upsetting for the fans who were looking forward to us more than ever. Ive always wondered, 'What kind of pretty words would make BUDDY happy?' Now I'm thinking about what kind of words will comfort BUDDY. I feel heavy writing every single word here.

I'm so lucky that I can always remember and find the cheering of the fans by my side, who gave me so much strength. I wanted to become a better person because you all always gave me so much love and trusted me. But can I be loved like this? I'm not as great as BUDDY thinks. Can I enjoy this kind of gift? I've felt this way since my debut. I've felt this way every moment since our promotions, fan meetings, and concerts. All of this was possible because of the fact that you guys supported us. I was really thankful that I could sing good songs,and I was happy to chime in thanks to you who recognized us. It's been the most beautiful and happy six years for me. That fact will never change. I wish all the best for BUDDY who I will love forever. I sincerely hope your lives will be full of smiles rather than tears. Thank you so much for being a reliable BUDDY to GFriend. Always be healthy and happy. BUDDY, I'll pray from the bottom of my heart. Whatever I do and how I look, I'll try my best to sing in the future. I'll do my best to repay all of your fond memories. This has been GFriend. Thank you, and I love you, our BUDDY."

SINB

"Hello. This is GFriend's SinB.

My heart is heavy delivering this sudden news to BUDDYs with this letter.

I contemplated for a long time about what to say and was being so careful about the letter that I was leaving words out...

In the six years promoting as GFriend's SinB, I want to thank everyone who gave stable support for us and because they were our motivation, we were able to receive huge amounts of love and support so I was very happy. And I'm also thankful to have been able to perform with good songs.

When I saw every letter people send, the support, and warm looks, I was able to do better and improve, and with every moment I was happy and wanted to share the good things with fans, so I think our past promotions were carried out nicely.

The fact that I've always told BUDDY that that we'd be together for a while under the name GFriend, that I can't keep the promise, makes me so sad and I'm apologetic and regretful. Still, I know the weight of those words, and I will not let the sincerity go away.

We won't forget the fans' love ever, even what we felt during our past promotions. We'll remember and keep my thankful heart while slowly repaying you with our individual activities in the future.

The past six years' memories have been the happiest time, and I wouldn't change it for anything.

Thank you to Source Music for taking me, who is lacking, into GFriend, and to my members and our BUDDYs, the time we spent together feels like a dream, I'm thankful, sorry, and I love you.

Thank you so much for reading this long letter, and stay healthy until the day we meet again."

YUJU

"Hello, this is GFriend Yuju.

Although I've been expressing my heart in posts a bit, this is the first time I'm writing a letter while all these thoughts and memories pass by me.

I worried you might be really surprised, and imagining that, my heart is heavy.

Thanks to everyone, each day I spent as a member of GFriend has been so precious. In the time I've tried to give you guys those kinds of days and work on myself, six years have suddenly passed. Once again, thank you so much to everyone who has cried and laughed together during our journey.

You've given us such a big heart that we couldn't imagine, and slowly looking back on the past memories recently, a lot of thoughts have come to my mind.

It was an even more beautiful being together with the members, and it was an honour to be able to sing and dance in front of supportive fans. Thank you for loving GFriend all this time.

My BUDDYs, who are the most precious thing in the world to me, I won't ever forget the emotions, looks, and voices that you had while watching us come up on stage, and I will keep it in the safest place of my heart.

Thank you for protecting me and not letting me break easily though I'm not that strong, and I will show you a better image in the future so as to not end with the sadness of this farewell.

Once again, I love you, thank you, and I appreciate you.

This has been GFriend."

YERIN

"Hello, this is GFriend's Yerin.

It's been a long time since I left a message like this with my own handwriting, but it feels heavy because it's like this.

I've decided to leave Source Music where I was since the age of 18 to 26. I think it was possible because of the family-like members who debuted at the age of 20 and supported me until I became who I am. I think it was possible because of BUDDY who gave us so much love and the Source Music family who worked harder than anyone else.

Will it happen in six years time? I've been through all these dreams, and I've always been loved so much that I think it was undeserved. I tried to take good care of myself and repay you with great performances.

I'm sure these times that will never come back have been times I will never forget. No matter what happens, thank you for showering me with love. I feel like I was able to come this far because of BUDDY.

I won't forget this time, and I'll try my best. Thank you for making great memories during my twenties. I love you, and I'll love you in the future too.

Thank you again to the members, BUDDY, and Source Music."

SOWON

"We debuted in January 2015 like a dream, met BUDDYs because of huge luck in my life, and received so much love to the point where I wondered if I should be able to receive so much. To be honest, I'm not a very confident person, so of course, I've gone through tough times. Still, in those times I had the opportunity to go one step further thanks to everyone. I know that fans said they would be happy and proud no matter what, but though I'm not sure if things have gone well or I've done well or not, I'm thankful for the time I've spent with everyone and the precious moments each day. Though I have my regrets about whether I could have done better or I couldn't see you more often, I will fill it up with even more things with not an end but a new beginning in the future.

Although officially GFriend is officially over, it's not the end for us, so don't have a hard time. BUDDY. It's hard to share the time we spent together in just this letter, but as always even if I don't say everything you guys know my heart more than anyone else. I feel a little worried that I can't continue walking down this path, but I will try my best to walk thinking of BUDDYs who have always supported me.

To BUDDY, who were very surprised at this news. I'm sorry and I love you.

I will repay you with a better image."

What are your thoughts now that GFRIEND has confirmed the news of their disbandment? Share them with us in the comments below!

Have a COVID related Experience or Advice? Discuss & Share on PINKVILLA Rooms.

Read more:

GFRIEND to officially disband; Members upload handwritten letters for fans while Sowon has a special message - PINKVILLA

Google Photos has been one of the best apps coming out of Google's universe of apps, but time is up. Not that Google Photos is going Google+ way, but the company has decided to kill the most popular feature, free unlimited storage. Now, what that means is, starting June 1, 2021, any new photos and videos uploaded on the Photos cloud service will count towards the free 15GB storage quota that is a standard for all Google accounts.

The 15GB free storage would have been more than enough to last a few years if the Google account storage wasn't shared across Gmail, Google Drive, and Photos. We have already discussed what are a few things Google Photos users should keep in mind.

To refresh, all photos and videos backed up in high quality before the deadline date, which is June 1, 2021, won't count towards the standard 15GB of Google account storage. So, in case you are still wondering, then, this might be your last chance to back up your entire photo gallery in high quality on Google Photos.

If you are wondering whether the high-quality tier that's free until May 31 will spoil your image quality, then understand that photos are compressed to save space. Let's say if a photo is larger than 16-megapixels, then it will be resized to 16-megapixel. Google says that users can print good high-quality 16-megapixel photos in sizes up to 24 inches x 16 inches. Coming to videos, the files that are higher than 1080p will be resized to high-definition 1080p. A video with 1080p or less will look close to the original. Some information, like closed captions, however, might be lost.

To make it simple, users could save original quality photos and videos to Google Photos that were counted against the storage quota. But photos and videos uploaded in high quality to the photo cloud service till now were free, and this means that you could upload a bigger chunk which would not count against your storage quota.

However, after June 1, all high-quality photos and videos backed up to Google Photos will count against users' storage quota.

For the Pixel 5 or older Pixel users, current backup quality photos and benefits remain unchanged. Google has confirmed that uploads in high quality from the Pixel 2 to Pixel 5 smartphones will continue to receive unlimited free storage. However, photos and videos backed up from other devices in high quality after June 1, 2021, will start to count towards the user's Google account storage.

For Pixel 3a to Pixel 5 users, photos and videos uploaded in high quality are free and unlimited. However, photos and videos uploaded in their original quality will count towards the user's Google account storage.

Considering Google Photos is one of the best photo tools you can get on the Internet, there are not many alternatives. There are a few photo services, but they also come with a storage quota.

Dropbox is one cloud service that users can try out for uploading, but it offers only 2GB to a single user as part of its free basic personal plan. Users will have to buy storage if they wish to store more content on this cloud service.

Microsoft OneDrive is another decent option for users who are looking for a Google Photos alternative. The OneDrive service offers a free tier of 5GB, and if users want more space, they can buy the 100GB plan for Rs 140 per month.

Amazon Photos is one good option for Prime members, which offers unlimited, full-resolution photo storage and 5GB video storage. But this is not available in India.

If you decide you want more space for your photos and videos, you can sign up for Google One plans which are available in India. All Google accounts include 15GB of storage, which is free of charge, but Google One bumps this storage quota to 100GB. The Google One plans start at as low as Rs 130 per month for 100GB cloud storage. Users can also choose to opt for an annual plan that offers some discount, like in the 100GB plan case, users can get an annual subscription for Rs 1,300. There are also 200GB, 2TB, and 10TB plans available for interested customers.

The good thing about Google One subscription is it offers some additional benefits, like when you get a 100GB plan, and you automatically get access to Google experts, the option to add your family, and extra member benefits.

The Google Photos free tier ends on May 31, which means there's still about two weeks left, and users who are yet to make a move should do it right away. If you're on the high-quality tier, upload all your photos and videos right away before the deadline of June 1 comes into effect and unlimited free storage ends for almost everyone.

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Google Photos unlimited free storage is ending this month, so what are your options - India Today

Dennis Medina, owner of Nicaraguan Caribbean Kitchen, had to close his restaurant at 1:30 p.m. Monday as floodwaters came into the building.

It was bad, he said Tuesday while cleaning the closed eatery located at 1629 Woodworth Blvd. The trucks would pass by, water was coming in, the toilets were flooding. It was really, really bad.

It wasnt the first time Medina and his wife had to close their two-year-old business. After evacuating for Hurricane Laura last year, they returned to find the roof torn off and the inside flooded.

Februarys freeze resulted in busted pipes, closing the doors for 10 days.

And still, the Medinas home has Harvey damage.

But were still here, he said Tuesday with an optimistic voice. Were trying to hang in there with this pandemic and all that. Were hanging in there.

But he, like the rest of Southeast Texas, was bracing for Wednesday.

The region devastated by years of strong weather events is expected to see continued rainfall this week a considerable amount Wednesday after facing heavy floodwaters Monday.

Right now were saying anywhere from 2-6 inches, Roger Erickson, warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather Service, said for Wednesday.

The restrooms at Nicaraguan Caribbean Kitchen in Port Arthur were flooded Monday, bringing in debris and trash. (Monique Batson/The News)

Port Arthur ISD on Tuesday pivoted Wednesday classes to virtual learning but intended to reopen schools on Thursday.

Erickson said the lowest amount of rainfall Monday in the Port Arthur area was 6 inches, although some regions to the west received up to 15.

Commissioners on Tuesday opened sandbag locations, including the Jefferson County Road and Bridge office at 7759 Viterbo Road in Nederland.

I flooded in Harvey, so I understand PTSD from the storm, said Commissioner Michael Sinegal. Thats why Im so passionate about making sure people have access to sand or whatever makes them comfortable. Sand bags wouldnt have helped with Harvey, but if that gives anyone peace of mind, well get sandbags out.

Mondays rainfall forced the commissioner to close the Port Arthur courthouse and sub-courthouse, putting a dump truck on standby to get employees safely home as water rose over roads.

The pooling caused a concern among residents in Port Arthur that the pumps werent on to drain the water. However, city officials assured they were on and working.

Weve been on it since very, very early this morning, Mayor Thurman Bartie said Monday after more than 7 inches of rain had fallen in Port Arthur. The rate of precipitation and the pumping capacity is not equal. If were getting a hard downpour, the pumps can only carry a certain amount of drainage.

25th Street in front of Motiva was closed Monday with flooded water.

The pumps take water from residential areas and redirect it to retention and detention ponds before delivering it to the Gulf, City Manager Ron Burton said.

Some are automatic and do not turn on until rainfall has reached a certain water level, or until drainage efforts are not overwhelmed.

Harvey dropped record rainfall on the area, leaving 60.58 inches in Nederland, which became the highest national amount recorded from a tropical event. Groves saw a collective 60.54 inches.

In Port Arthur, more than 26 inches dropped in one day.

Harvey was scary. I never dreamed, Sinegal said, his voice tapering off. I rode in a motorboat. If somebody had told me Id be in a boat rescuing people, Id have said they were lying.

National Weather Service meteorologist Donald Jones called Monday the tip of the ice berg.

Were going to be looking at continued high rain chancesinto Thursday and probably even into Friday as well, he said. So we still have several more days of heavy rainfall ahead of us.

Jones spoke from the NWS office in Lake Charles an area destroyed last year by hurricanes Laura and Delta.

Jones said on Tuesday he was stuck in the NWS office and had yet to check on his house to assess any damage.

Jefferson County residents are encouraged to report any home or business damages through a survey at https://damage.tdem.texas.gov/. The purpose is to give local and state officials an idea of what has occurred through recent weather events. The site also supports the uploading of photographs.

Southeast Texas is under a flash flood watch through Thursday night.

Burton said residents can help with residential flooding by maintaining their own property throughout the year, specifically during storm season.

Please, when you cut the lawn, do not blow it into streets because it compromises the drainage system, he said. When you cut trees or shrubs, please do not put them in the drain. You are compromising drainage systems and making your neighborhood prone to flooding.

See the original post:

Severe weather soaks spirits in rain-ravaged area - "We're trying to hang in there" - Port Arthur News - The Port Arthur News

1000-Lb Sisters star Tammy Slaton receives plenty of attention from fans of the hit TLC show, for better or worse. While some feel that Tammy Slaton is jealous of Amy Slaton and her progress, others beg to differ entirely including Tammy.. Meanwhile, Tammy Slaton has recently announced that she has a new boyfriend, appearing with him on her very active social media accounts. Given how frequently some fans see Tammy online, theyve begun asking about her health and lifestyle, including some wondering what happened to Tammy Slatons forehead.

RELATED: 1000-Lb Sisters: Tammy Slaton Tells Fans Shes Better than Amy Slaton

1000-Lb Sisters stars Tammy Slaton and Amy Slaton have visited doctors to investigate a variety of ailments throughout their time on the TLC reality show. One such visit involved Tammy seeking an answer on whats happening to her forehead.

Viewers of the show may have noticed that Tammy Slatons forehead sported a bulge in the past, at times extending outwards roughly as far as her nose. Luckily, Tammy was able to find an answer while visiting a doctor.

She was informed that her forehead bulge was something called a fat socket. Essentially, her body had begun storing excess fat in other places, including the fat deposits in her forehead. The doctor said that as she lost weight, Tammy Slatons forehead would lose its bulge.

Recently, Tammys social media uploads have fans speculating about her weight loss, in part as a result of her forehead fat sockets smaller size. For fans this is encouraging they have been rooting for the 1000-Lb Sisters stars continued good health.

1000-Lb Sisters fans will also be excited to hear that theres news when it comes to Tammy Slatons love life. The star recently revealed that shes in a relationship with a new man.

Previously, Tammy had been dating Jerry Sykes, a married man that many fans werent convinced had Tammys best interests in mind. The two split, with Sykes saying he felt guilty about cheating on his wife.

Now, Slaton is dating a new man shes been uploading videos to social media of herself hanging out with a fellow who calls himself thebbwking on TikTok. His bio on the social media site reads, here for the ssbbw and bbw the bigger the better Mr 300 and up.

Some fans have suggested that Tammy Slatons new boo doesnt truly love her for her, but more for her size than anything else. Others have expressed concerns that his interest will result in the 1000-Lb Sisters star slowing down her weight loss.

Some 1000-Lb Sisters fans have been speculating on whether or not Tammy Slaton has been moved into some sort of assisted living facility to help with her care and weight loss. Tammy recently announced on social media that this is not the case.

Im sorry to tell you this but you couldnt be more wrong. Im not in a nursing home. Im not in a hospital. I am at home, explained Slaton in a video captured and posted to Reddit.

The reason Im wearing my mask, you know COVID? Were filming for Season 3? So I have to wear it, she added.

Continued here:

'1000-Lb Sisters' Season 3: What Happened to Tammy Slaton's Forehead? - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

In a world of virus-induced breathlessness, the first Assamese superhero will be without a mask, unlike most of his popular Hollywood counterparts.

But Advitya, revived two years after a digital accident prevented him from hitting the screens, will sport a special costume this time as he takes on the supervillain in a fancy outfit.

Also Read | Get First Day First Show, our weekly newsletter from the world of cinema, in your inbox. You can subscribe for free here

Director Arindam Sharma expected to release Advitya a Sanskrit word for the Sun soon after uploading a teaser on social media in June 2019. A multiple system snag made him lose the edited film and all the backup footage, putting him through a phase of an emotional and financial crisis.

A superpower within awakened by his fictional superhero made Mr. Sharma pick up the pieces, tweak the script to include more action sequences, coordinate with the actors and start filming again by the dawn of 2020.

After making up my mind to re-shoot the entire film, I informed all the actors. Apart from Niha Rani Das and Bikash Bora, none agreed to be part of the film again because of their professional commitments to other producers, he told The Hindu.

Some new actors, popular on Assamese TV channels, came on board. They include Arnab Ayan in the lead role.

The COVID-19 lockdown affected the second schedule of the shooting planned in March 2020. But he held on to complete the shooting and editing after a gap in October-November that year.

The VFX team is now working on the visual effects for more than 350 shots of the film, Mr. Sharma said, hoping for the commercial release of his directorial debut later this year depending on the prevailing situation.

The film is much tighter and more action-packed than the earlier version, he said.

Advitya, the first superhero in Assamese cinemas 88-year-old history, is a common man seeking job security and stability in life. The name is given by the people he saves from danger.

The superhero finds it difficult to manage his suddenly-acquired superpowers to take on the equally powerful supervillain, an evil scientist who derives strength from his laboratory experiments and the fury of nature.

The underlying message of the film is that one should not go against time and nature, and that truth will always prevail over lies and good over evil, Mr. Sharma said, declining to disclose the source of Advityas superpowers or how he overpowers the supervillain.

Apart from directing and scripting the film, he handled the cinematography along with two others Kailash Duara and Nasirul Hussain. The choreography is by Sarat Bappi Saikia, while Dipu Sharma arranged the music.

The film, made under the banner of Krrishna Kraft Productions (India), is produced by Brojendra Nath Sarma. Popular singer Dikshu Sarma and Sanchita Sharma sang the songs penned and composed by Ankur Sharma.

Originally posted here:

Assams fictional superhero Advitya all set to hit the screens in fancy outfit without mask - The Hindu

A mother has perplexed the internet by uploading a photo of her daughter sinking into concrete, or at least that's what the picture looks like.

The little girlseen in the optical illusion has only her body up to her waist visible in the picture. Her bottom half seems to bemysteriously disappearing into the ground that borders a grassy space.

The mother was baffled by the image and decided to publish it online to see if anybody else could figure it out, but she was quickly swamped with comments from others stating it had 'melted their brains, Mirrorreported.

Some, on the other hand, were able to discern what was going on and promptly called it out in the comments, so can you figure it out?

The image, which has over 70 thousandlikes, displays a little girl clothed in pink playing on a device, but half of her body has vanished into the pavement. My daughter, where is the rest of her? wrote the mother in the caption.

Most readers couldn't figure it out, prompting one to write, "Great one, OP!" I'll admit it took me a while to get to the comments on this one, and I still struggled."

Readers with keen eyes saw that the little girl was, in fact, sitting on a lower sidewalk constructed of the same material as the raised garden wall, theIndependentreported.

To add to the confusion, the girl has her elbow elevated to the same level as the bigger platform, giving the impression that she is sinking into the pavement. However, even after comprehending the phantasm, a few of theusers struggled to articulate exactly what they were experiencing.

While optical illusions are known to deceive the mind, anotherviral video hadalso terrified netizens. A photo of a young girl with excessively skinny and long legs standing in the middle of the ground was shared on Facebook by the official account of addiction rehabilitation advocate Christopher Ferry, The Indian Expressreported.

Others found the result frightening,while some felt terriblefor the girl, believing it to be an anomaly. The missing piece of the jigsaw, however, turned out to be in the caption of the photograph. A little girl poses with a popcorn bag.

Optical Illusion, Museum of Illusions, Canada Photo by DESIGNECOLOGIST /Unsplash

The rest is here:

Netizens Baffled Over Moms Photo Of Daughter Sinking Into Concrete - Latin Times

As restrictions and social distancing norms due to the ongoing second wave of coronavirus once again keeps us inside our homes, there is a rise in the use of teleconsultations and telemedicine.

One such app experiencing a surge in usage is 1MG.

Founded in 2015 by Prashant Tandon, Gaurav Agarwal and Vikas Chauhan, 1MG allows you to order medicines, lab testing, and immunity boosting supplements on its app.

The 1MG app needs a strong internet connection while operating and might not work very well on slower connections.

On launching, the app asks for your location and then you are in.

The first impression you would get as you enter the app is that the interface is similar to that of any other online marketplace. There are flashes of discount ads.

Then there is a top banner ad for same-day delivery and a banner just below it, which keeps swiping automatically to show discounts offered on sanitisers and ordering medicines, multivitamin tablets, steamers, and all Covid-related products.

After selecting your city, these are a few different pages on the 1MG mobile app

As you scroll down further there is a plethora of services offered such as ordering medicine by just uploading the prescription, booking full body checkups with their lab partners, and 1MGs own private label products.

The app gives a very Amazon-kind of feel, a one-stop-shop for all medical and wellness needs. It is a good option for consumers as they do not need to frantically search across multiple websites for products.

You can either search for the products you need by typing the names in the search bar or you even upload your prescription and the app would let you know the availability of the medicines.

While there is a huge selection of over-the-counter medicines, to buy most things prescribed by a doctor, a prescription needs to be uploaded.

Same day and next day delivery services are provided.

The 1MG app offers you one free health consultation. To begin with, a bot asks you multiple questions such as your name, age, gender, and symptoms. It can even ask you to upload pictures in case there is a skin condition involved.

1MG's one free doctor consultation interface

After understanding your symptoms, the bot will connect you with the necessary physician. 1MG is also offering treatments in Ayurveda, Homoeopathy, and Allopathy.

There are also videos one can access where specialists talk on topics including Covid preventions, home treatment tips for mildly symptomatic Covid patients, and the importance of double masking.

The app has multiple methods of payments, including UPI, credit and debit cards.

1MGs app is developed keeping in mind the need of the hour, which is supplements for Covid patients. Necessary lab tests and Covid consultations.

But what seems a bit out of place for a medicine app is the constant banner ads for brands including Nivea, Complan, and skincare brand Neutrogena.

If you are looking to find everything from medicine and testing to skincare and wellness products all in one place then this is a good app to use.

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[App Fridays] How 1MG is meeting the rise in demand for teleconsultations, medicines amid COVID-19 resurgence - YourStory

The Herald

Tendai RupapaSenior ReporterFirst Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa yesterday handed over 30 000 books to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education in a gesture which demonstrates the importance of partnerships.

The books are a result of a strong working relationship between the First Lady and an international organisation, Merck Foundation, a partnership which has yielded a lot of positive results for the country.

Amai Mnangagwa is the ambassador of Merck More than a Mother in Zimbabwe.

The First Lady values childrens education and has always been providing learning materials in schools and paying fees for disadvantaged children countrywide.

The books she donated yesterday are Educating Rujeko, which tackles issues of child marriages, Tudus story which deals with issues of infertility and Make the right Choices which dwells on doing what is right in this era of Covid-19.

Speaking at the handover ceremony yesterday, the First Lady said a special relationship has grown over the past three years between Angel of Hope Foundation and Merck Foundation which share the same values and are seized with the welfare and well-being of the most vulnerable in society, mainly women and children.

Over the past few years we have come up with many ideas on how we can improve the welfare of our people. I am glad to say this partnership has yielded a lot of positive things for the country, she said.

Doctors, the First Lady said, have been trained in specialist areas of infertility and embryology, diabetes mellitus, oncology and respiratory medicine. More than 100 doctors have been trained either online or have gone to India for specialist training.

We have had media training in Zimbabwe. The importance of this is to have our media practitioners being able to write well-researched stories on sensitive health topics. For example, subjects on infertility which are considered taboo in our societies. They have a duty to inform the public with articles that have depth. Awards have also been given to journalists who have done very well, she said.

She emphasised that Merck Foundation has also worked with her foundation in responding to the Covid-19 pandemic.

I wish to particularly thank the CEO of Merck Foundation Senator Dr Rasha Kelej who is one of the most influential women in Africa for starting the Merck more than a Mother movement of which she is the president. This has brought issues of infertility to the forefront.

Merck Foundation is also working with other African First Ladies. It is with this in mind that Angel of Hope Foundation and Merck Foundation have developed some reading material on subjects which need awareness. Knowledge is power. We need our people to be knowledgeable on these critical issues. That way, we also contribute to his Excellencys call for Zimbabwe achieving an upper middle class economy by 2030, said the First Lady.

In is acceptance speech, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Cain Mathema praised the First Lady for her gesture.

The Ministry is aware of the spirit that you have towards the welfare of all Zimbabweans and the vulnerable members of our communities. It is a fact that you are doing a valuable task through the Angel of Hope Foundation.

The donation that we have received today is testimony of the good work that you are doing to all Zimbabweans. Your generous donation dovetails with the ministrys vision of providing equitable, quality, inclusive and relevant education, he said.

Minister Mathema said one of their major challenges since 2015 when they introduced their competency-based curriculum was the shortage of learning and teaching materials.

The titles of the books you have donated do not only demonstrate the need for quality education for the learners, but also point towards moulding our learners along the expected values as enshrined in our educational philosophy of Unhu/Ubuntu, he said.

In her vote of thanks, Secretary for Primary and Secondary Education Mrs Tumisang Thabela said it was a fact that education was anchored on reading and more time people spent reading, the more they consciously and subconsciously gained the skill they needed to deal with the complexities of various tasks.

Indeed, the books that you have donated Amai will not only enable learners to gain knowledge but enable them to acquire the much-needed skills and attitudes that are necessary for life. The ministry is therefore indebted to you for this good gesture.

The books will help the children to make the right choices in their lives. We will also look into uploading the soft copies on our website and make sure they are accessed by all children. Amai you are more than a mother to us, she said.

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First Lady hands over 30 000 books - The Herald

Conservative commentator Steven Crowder is taking YouTube to court over its content practices and policies which he says are used to silence conservative voices.

The Daily Wire reports Crowder announced his lawsuit against the social media platform on Monday during his show "Louder on Crowder."

"As of last Thursday, May 14, my lawyer Bill Richmond and I have filed a notice of a lawsuit against YouTube and are seeking an injunction to prevent them, to stop them from currently deplatforming us," Crowder said. "We've officially sent a notice of a lawsuit. Very different level this is the big one, boys and girls."

As CBN News reported in March, YouTube removed Crowder's channel from its partner program indefinitely, which will not allow him to make money from ads running with his videos.

The social media platform removed Crowder's video from March 16 containing references about black farmers and slavery. The company said the video violated its COVID-19 misinformation policy and not its policy concerning hate speech, according to HITC.com.

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YouTube also banned Crowder for uploading a now-deleted video which reportedly challenged the legitimacy of the election in Nevada. The company has a policy against posting videos that claim there was fraud in the presidential election.

The second strike against him reportedly came in April over Crowder's comments about a Columbus, Ohio police shooting in which an officer shot and killed black teen Ma'Khia Bryant as she was trying to stab another girl. YouTube said Crowder was "reveling in or mocking" the black girl's death.

Crowder denied the charge Monday while Richmond reminded listeners that even if the commentator had violated YouTube policy, his show is a comedy show and is exempted under the policy."This really isn't just about us. We can find ways that we can broadcast to you," Crowder said. "But this is the world's most powerful company arguably, when you look at YouTube, Google, Alphabet and they make sure that they ghost you where people cannot find, not us, but the point of view."

"In other words, in that same point in time when we're talking specifically about the Columbus issue, you can go to Stephen Colbert, you can go to CNN, they're all uploading at that same time with information that we know to be incorrect," he continued. "To not allow half the country, half the world ever to correct those mistruths under some misguided and, frankly, not outlined policy the last thing I want to be doing is doing a lawsuit with Google and YouTube for crying out loud."

"What YouTube is saying is these ideas are so dangerous that we can't address them or rebut them, we can't criticize them, we just have to extinguish the opinions entirely. We have to eradicate these opinions from the planet because we can't deal with them," Richmond added.

"But the reality, this is a comedy show that takes on important issues. Commentary, politics, issues that are facing everyone in every part of the nation and the world, and we have to be able to talk about them," the attorney said.

The Daily Wire reports Crowder's lawsuit against YouTube is the second legal fight he's attempted this year. In February, he announced he was suing Facebook for censoring his content.

Crowder is a conservative political commentator, media host, and comedian with millions of social media followers. He hosts "Louder with Crowder", a daily political podcast. He is particularly notable for a recurring segment called "Change My Mind". He is also a former contributor at Fox News. His main YouTube channel currently has more than 5.4 million subscribers.

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Steven Crowder Sues YouTube for Silencing Conservatives: 'This Is the Big One' - CBN News