FUZHOU, China, Aug. 03, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — E-Home Household Service Holdings Limited (Nasdaq: EJH) (the “Company” or “E-Home”), a provider of integrated household services in China, today announced that the Company has begun testing of robot cleaners in providing household services.

Fast pace of life is quite common across urban cities. The way people perceive their household chores has been changed by the pandemic as well as we tend to care about hygienic standard more than we did before. With regard to the growing interest from our consumers who are pushing technology to innovate, E-Home redefines AI technology application in household cleaning, bringing this futuristic lifestyle closer to everyone.

The Company is testing its first robot cleaner model that is designed for expert navigation and strong cleaning effect. The cleaner will help E-Home’s household service crew navigate to corners and edges with ease, avoid large pieces of furniture while cleaning thoroughly from dust to large debris hiding in tile gaps, under furniture and on carpets. In addition, the robot cleaner is also designed to perform disinfection works as precautions should always be taken to prevent any potential spread of pandemic virus.

Mr. Wenshan Xie, Chairman and CEO of E-Home, commented: “At E-Home, we’ve witnessed the success of our humanoid robotic customer service and staff training initiatives. How the core technology of robotic products applies to usage scenarios with high frequency, high demand and difficult pain points is the background story which has inspired us to keep our journey in exploring household robot cleaners. We aim to introduce smart home appliances into every household with reasonable price and better user experience.”

About E-Home Household Service Holdings Limited

Established in 2014, E-Home Household Service Holdings Limited is a Nasdaq-listed household service company based in Fuzhou, China. The Company, through its website and WeChat platform “e家快服”, provides integrated household services, including 1) installation and maintenance of home appliances and smart homes; 2) Housekeeping, nanny, sister-in-law and cleaning services; 3) Internet elderly care + home-based elderly care; 4) Hospital care; 5) Nanny delivery platform.

After years of development, the Company has formed two main services and four auxiliary services targeting at individual consumers (ToC) and business clients (ToB). 1) The ToC business focuses on nanny, sister-in-law, home-based elderly care and cleaning, and family comprehensive service supplemented by other housekeeping services. At present, it has successfully connected with metaverse technology to realize metaverse-based customer service as well as training of domestic workers. The ToB business focuses on public cleaning and cleaning robotic equipment. Four auxiliary services include 1) docking and application of metaverse technology to housekeeping and cleaning industries; 2) online and offline sales of medicine and health food (including nannies and nursing workers); 3) training on nannies and nursing workers to engage in health care in physical stores; 4) human resources (flexible employment).

E-Home has become a modern enterprise of comprehensive service for family life. The Company always adheres to the business philosophy of “solving every issue of customers with heart”, and to the code of conduct of “doing everything well with heart”. The Company aims to set the benchmark of the household service industry. For more information, visit the Company’s website at http://www.ej111.com/ir.html.

Forward-Looking Statement

All statements other than statements of historical fact in this announcement are forward-looking statements in nature within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “potential,” “continue,” “is/are likely to” or other similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to consider risk factors, including those described in the Company’s filings with the SEC, that may affect the Company’s future results. All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company and its subsidiaries or persons acting on their behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these risk factors.

For more information, please contact:

Chunming Xie

Investor Relations

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +86 15359908086

Janice Wang

EverGreen Consulting Inc.

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +1 470-940-3308 (from U.S.)

+86 13811768559 (from China)

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Originally Appeared Here

Sophia Spring © Hodder & Stoughton

Lucy Worsley will be joining us at Good Housekeeping Live in partnership with Dyson, a two-day event at Carlton House Terrace, London on Friday 14 and Saturday 15 October in celebration of our 100th anniversary.

On Saturday 15 October at 1.30-3pm, enjoy lunch followed by a fascinating talk with the popular historian and TV presenter, who will discuss her life-long interest in Britain’s most prolific crime writer, Agatha Christie, along with her new book, Agatha Christie: A Very Elusive Woman. While we’ve got her, Lucy will also reveal the secrets of some of the UK’s most historic properties.

Diners will enjoy a main course with a meat or vegan option, petit fours and a mix of hot and cold drinks, including a glass of Prosecco.

Those attending will also take home a signed copy of Agatha Christie: A Very Elusive Woman, as well as a special 100th anniversary GH goodie bag.

Book before August 31 and tickets are only £60, thanks to a 20% early bird discount. Do note that any dietary requests can be made at the time of booking. Unfortunately, we cannot take dietary requests on the day.

BOOK HERE

All ticket holders can also enjoy a full day relaxing in the beautiful surroundings of Carlton House Terrace, grab light refreshments in the GH Cafe, browse the GH Bookshop and have the opportunity to attend the following free workshops and experiences:

• FREE fashion talks – browse the latest looks and learn how to style them with the help of GH fashion director Oonagh Brennan.
• FREE tablescaping demonstrations from the GH Homes team.
• FREE cake and biscuit decorating demos from professional bakers.
• FREE flower-arranging workshop from the experts at Bloom & Wild.
• FREE guided taste test with the Good Housekeeping Institute team.
• FREE guided tour of the Dyson Healthy Home exhibition area, plus floor-care demonstration by experts from Dyson and the GHI.
• FREE mini treatments in The Beauty Parlour in partnership with Absolute Collagen.
• FREE talks by the fragrance and cleaning experts at Zoflora on how to create a beautiful-smelling home.
• FABULOUS live music.
• THE CHANCE TO meet and chat to the GH team about life behind the scenes of your favourite magazine.

Book before the end of August and you can take advantage of a 20% discount on the cost of all full-price Good Housekeeping Live tickets. Tickets for lunch followed by Lucy’s talk are only £60.

BOOK HERE

Good Housekeeping Live in partnership with Dyson is a two-day event at Carlton House Terrace, London taking place on Friday 14 and Saturday 15 October in celebration of our 100-year anniversary.

We’re delighted to offer you the opportunity to join the Good Housekeeping team for a packed programme featuring some of our favourite stars, experts and authors, which encompass live talks, masterclasses and cookery demonstrations.

Other guests at our two-day event include Monica Galetti, Shirley Ballas, Fern Britton and Nadiya Hussain.

FULL LINE UP

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Originally Appeared Here

Los Angeles Unified announced it will not require students to wear masks this school year but maintains that they are strongly recommended. The decision follows Los Angeles County Public Health’s decision to delay its indoor mask mandate as Covid-19 case rates and hospitalizations began to slow. 

“We’re very happy over the fact that after a significant increase in Covid cases in our community, there has been a plateau and now a significant decrease in the cases in our community,” Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said at a news conference last week. “That bodes well for a smooth reopening of schools on Aug. 15.”

This comes as the district is relaxing its Covid-19 protocols for the upcoming school year. Students will no longer be required to test weekly. Rather, only those exhibiting symptoms and those who are in close contact with someone who tests positive will be required to test using an at-home antigen test. The district is, however, distributing at-home antigen tests to students and staff to use within 48 hours of the first day of school and will distribute another batch to students to test again before the second week.

Students will also no longer be required to use the QR code generated by the Daily Pass system each day to enter school sites. However, the Daily Pass system will still be used for health screening questions, to keep track of positive tests, to notify close contacts and to upload vaccination records. 

As LAUSD rolls back Covid-19 requirements, it is also investing more in sanitation and ventilation efforts. The district is planning to disinfect high-touch surfaces twice a day and have HVAC systems operating 24/7. It is also investing in additional custodial support, tools and supplies to ensure Covid-19 safety, including an annual investment of $20 million to maintain upgraded air filtration systems.

According to Carvalho, the district has an excess of 2 million antigen tests that will be available throughout the year for those who request them, along with surgical masks. Students who do not exhibit Covid-19 symptoms will not be required to quarantine, despite being in close contact with someone who tests positive. Those who do test positive may return to school on day five if they are asymptomatic and are encouraged to continue wearing a mask for 10 days following exhibition of symptoms or a positive test.

Latest updates:

Tuesday, August 2, 2022, 3:46 pm

LAUSD students to start school year without mask mandate

Tuesday, August 2, 2022, 10:08 am

Average first-year college students not on track to graduate in five years

Tuesday, August 2, 2022, 10:07 am

First Latino LAUSD board member Julian Nava dies at 95

Tuesday, August 2, 2022, 9:37 am

Research shows college vaccine mandates helped reduce deaths

Monday, August 1, 2022, 10:34 am

Thousands of students missing from LAUSD as new school year approaches

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Originally Appeared Here

WELLINGTON, Kan. (KSNW) — The City of Wellington is temporarily switching from chloramines to free chlorine in order to disinfect the water distribution system and optimize the water quality beginning on Wednesday, Aug. 3.

The City says the switch will last through Aug. 25, or until the water distribution system has been completely flushed to remove any biofilm and bacteria from the pipes, reduce the formation of nitrates and nitrites, and reduce any taste and odor complaints.

According to Culligan Water, Chloramine is a chemical variant of chlorine. It contains ammonia and is generally safe to drink and use around the home. When it is added to water, it is used as a secondary disinfection method to ensure that germs and other pathogens are removed. It has two primary advantages over chlorine: It stays active in the water longer, and it has less of a chlorine taste and odor. While you can drink chlorine daily, it may make it difficult due to both smell and taste.

The City will resume utilizing chloramines after distribution system flushing is completed.

During the maintenance process, Wellington says the water is safe to drink and use as normal. Customers may notice a slight discoloration/cloudiness or chlorine odor, but it will be safe to use. The City does note that water users sensitive to chlorine or chloramine should take normal precautions.

August proclaimed “Kansas Breastfeeding Month”

The City of Wellington says customers may or may not see some of the following during the maintenance process:

• A slight discoloration or cloudiness in the water
• A slight chlorine odor or taste
• Minor fluctuations in water pressures while flushing is occurring
• Minor discoloration in the water due to flushing the system
• Utility crews operating fire hydrants to flush the system

If you do experience discoloration or odor, the City says to flush the water through an outside spigot or tub faucet for a few minutes to clear. By running the water through a spigot or tub faucet, the problem clears faster, and if any debris particles have been stirred by flushing, it will not clog faucet strainers.

Wellington states critical users such as hospitals, dialysis groups, pet/aquatic/pond companies, companies that use water for processing, and other water users sensitive to chloramines or free chlorine should consult with their professionals about their internal treatment procedures.

Woman charged in death of 1-year-old

The recommendation comes from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE).

After distribution system flushing is completed, Wellington says the water plant will resume disinfection utilizing chloramines.

If you have any concerns or questions, you can call the Water Production Plant during normal business hours at 620-434-5353 or Water Distribution at 620-326-3011.

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Originally Appeared Here

Unlike in our parents’ time, cleaning the freezer doesn’t have to be an all-day thing anymore. With a regular weekly wipe-down, you can address the most basic aspects of cleaning and that will help keep your whole refrigerator in optimal working order. It will also keep the surfaces free from germs.

Despite popular belief, freezing doesn’t actually kill germs and bacteria. It simply “inactivates any microbes, bacteria, yeasts and molds” according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Additionally, foods must reach zero degrees Fahrenheit to do so. This means that before food lowers to that temperature to inactivate it, it can still contaminate. On the flip side, when the food thaws, the bacteria and microbes become active once again and can infect surfaces.

A weekly clean-up is easy and only takes a few minutes. According to Taste of Home, you need to wipe down the inner surfaces, including the top and bottom, and the sides of the freezer with a warm dishcloth covered with dishwashing liquid. It’s also important to disinfect the freezer handle and the outside door, a place that will never reach zero degrees and can harbor potential pathogens from touching the door with raw meat or any kind of bacteria on your hands. Spills should be cleaned up promptly so they have no chance to stick.

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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Oregon State University confirmed Monday a domestic rabbit living in Lane County died from rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus type 2 (RHDV2).

The confirmation comes about a week after seven domestic rabbits living in Multnomah County also died because of RHDV2, according to the Oregon Department of Agriculture. Their news release continues below, in full:

The rabbit’s owner reported that the animal became lethargic, refused to eat, then experienced convulsions shortly before suddenly dying on the morning of July 29. Later that day, a second rabbit in the house also died. The owner then submitted one of the animals to OSU for testing. No other rabbits were present in the household.

RHDV2 is a highly contagious virus that can spread quickly among rabbit populations. The virus poses no human health risk and is only known to infect rabbits and hares. It is resistant to extreme temperatures and can survive in the environment for months under certain conditions.

Rabbit hemorrhagic disease causes sudden death in rabbits and spreads through direct contact between infected and susceptible live rabbits or exposure to contaminated materials (carcasses, pelts, food, water, and forage, etc.) Birds, rodents, flies, predators, and scavengers can spread the virus via their feet, fur or feathers, or feces without becoming infected themselves.

In the Lane County case, wild rabbits are known to reside near the home and the owner’s cat is known to spend time outside, as well as spending significant time with the domestic rabbits.

Please report rabbit mortalities to track the virus’s presence and movement.

Call 1-800-347-7028 or visit https://oda.direct/RHD to report domestic rabbits suspected to have died from RHDV2.

To report the death of wild rabbits, please contact the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) by calling 1-866-968-2600 or email [email protected].

For those raising domestic rabbits (also talk to your veterinarian for advice):

• Minimize exposure to wild rabbits and hares by keeping your rabbits in hutches or cages that are elevated off the ground.
• Keep pet rabbits inside to avoid exposure to environments potentially contaminated by wild/feral rabbits or by people, vehicles, or implements that can spread the disease.
• Do not allow your rabbits to graze or roam in a yard if wild rabbits are present in your area.
• Restrict visitors to your rabbitry and limit the handling of the animals by visitors.
• Avoid transporting or importing domestic rabbits.
• After visiting a show, fair, or meeting where rabbits were commingled, shower and change clothes before handling your rabbits.
• Quarantine new rabbits away from existing ones for 30 days.
• Know the health status of the rabbitry from which you purchase rabbits.
• Keep dogs, coyotes, insects, birds, rodents, and other animals away from your rabbits, as they may carry disease.
• Be aware of the state’s rabbit disease status or country of origin of any equipment or supplies you are purchasing.
• Wash and disinfect hands, clothing, gloves, footwear, cages, and equipment between rabbits from different sources. (RHDV is inactivated by 10% bleach to water solution.)
• Immediately contact ODA (800-347-7028) if you suspect RHD or have sick or freshly dead rabbits.

For hunters:

• If sick or dead rabbits are observed in an area, do not hunt, run dogs, or fly falconry birds in that area. Contact ODFW immediately at 866-968-2600.
• Avoid hunting in areas in states where RHDV-2 outbreaks have been recently documented. Contact the state wildlife agency where you will be hunting for information on where RHDV-2 has been identified.
• After handling wild rabbits, wash hands and change clothing and footwear before handling or caring for domestic rabbits.
• Do not eat, drink, or smoke while handling animals.
• Wear rubber, nitrile, or disposable latex gloves while handling and cleaning the game. Wash hands thoroughly with warm water and soap or sanitizer after handling the game. Disinfect all knives, equipment, and surfaces that were in contact with the game.
• Thoroughly cook all game to an internal temperature of 165°F.
• Do not feed game meat from wildlife that appears sick, are found dead, or test positive for a contagious disease to people or pets, including falconry birds.
• Avoid transporting live wild rabbits for release into training pens or field trials, mainly if sick or dead rabbits have been observed in the area.

Carcass handling

If you find a dead rabbit:

• Wear disposable gloves when handling rabbit carcasses.
• Double bag carcasses and spray outside of the bag with disinfectant.
• Wash hands with soap and warm water after handling carcasses and removing gloves. Dispose of gloves in trash headed to a landfill.

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Originally Appeared Here

Debris lines Ky. 610 in Virgie near Hall and Jones Funeral Home. The Virgie area was among the hardest-hit in Pike County during catastrophic flooding last week.

News-Express
photo by
Kristi Strouth

Various charity organizations and community churches are continuing relief efforts in the wake of Eastern Kentucky’s widespread flood damage.

Veterans of Foreign Wars State Commander Nathan Sesco said posts in Whitesburg and Hazard have become supply distribution centers for flood victims.

“We are not only here for veterans, but to serve the community in their time of need,” said Nesco. “We are actually ready for this disaster as we have experience with the tornado in Murray. Commander Ryan Buchanan with the Murray VFW post have brought in supplies, and are helping assist.”

Sesco said the VFW has been delivering much-needed supplies and are performing hands-on rescue missions in Whitesburg as the VFW Southern Conference has arrived to help.

“Besides the VFW helping with supplies, Whitesburg VFW Quartermaster Tony Adams and KSP trooper Jay Perkins, from the Harlan post have been out in the water on boats and have rescued nearly 20 people in Whitesburg,” he said.

Church organizations also are stepping up.

Sandy Penix, the Kentucky East Methodist District disaster relief coordinator, said there are more 90 organizations dedicated to the area’s disaster efforts.

“The Kentucky Methodist Conference disaster relief director is encouraging churches in our communities to join our efforts,” said Penix. “We expect teams to come in and help with cleanup efforts over the next week or two. We urge those churches with shower facilities to open their doors.”

Other organizations assisting in relief efforts include The Mennonite Church, the Kentucky Baptist Convention and Catholic Charities which have opened laundry centers in the last two days.

The Christian Appalachian Project is actively seeking volunteers who would be willing to go out to affected areas and the American Red Cross has been active from the beginning.

Penix said the charity organization From Hearts Two Hands has arrived in Kentucky assisting at the East Kentucky Dream Center and together they are providing more than 3,500 meals per day.

“The East Kentucky Dream Center is doing a wonderful job in our area collecting and distributing supplies,” said Penix. “The center has been a shining star.”

The Louisville-based charity organization SOS is working in Whitesburg, Penix said, and donated 42,000 medical supplies which should have arrived yesterday.

The community can drop off supplies at the Appalachian Wireless Arena. Flood victims can pick up those supplies at the Sycamore Fire Department, Elkhorn City Fire Department, Shelby Valley Rescue and the Shelby Valley Fire Department.

Penix said there are so many heart-wrenching stories out there but one lady in particular Saturday just ‘broke her heart.”

“She was about 65, and she came in to get supplies in flood mud clothing and boots,” Penix said. “When we gave her supplies and recognized her loss, she broke down and covered her hands over her face and just cried and cried. We all gathered around her and I prayed with her.”

Pike Association of Southern Baptists Director, Jason Lowe said the Southern Baptist Conference Disaster Relief teams were showing up in Eastern Kentucky Aug. 1 to help.

“We must be the hands and feet of Jesus because people are hurting and need help,” Lowe said. “We are expecting over 100 volunteers from the Southern Baptist Conference. Groups from Tennessee, Alabama and North Carolina churches are all trained volunteers. Crews will be directed to victims’ homes to assess damages and will be equipped with chain saws and materials to spray out mud. They will also do structure tear outs, rip up carpet, and disinfect for mold.”

Kevin Hall said Hall and Jones Funeral Home located in Virgie opened its doors to flood victims for two days even though their own facilities saw flood damage.

“We fed community members here and handed out cases of water that had been dropped off,” Hall said. “We are all about community here, even though we did get some damage of our own, we opened our door to our neighbors in their time of need. Material items can be replaced, life can’t.”

Director of the East Kentucky Dream Center, Racheal Dotson said the center has not slowed down in their efforts to help flood victims.

“Right now we are just doing what we do best,” Dotson said. “We are extending help to every area in East Kentucky, because we are the East Kentucky Dream Center, we serve all of Eastern, Kentucky. Yesterday we served McRoberts, Beaver, HiHat, Jenkins and Neon.”

Dotson said the organization sent two furniture trucks full of clothing out to four counties and continues to feed hundreds of people every day.

“Operation Blessing is a national organization that has joined forces with us,” Dotson said. They have donated semis of goods to help flood victims and they will also be at the Connection Church.”

For flood victims in need of water, cleaning supplies, or information about donations, call Pike County Emergency Management at, (606) 432-0210.

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Originally Appeared Here

DALLAS (KDAF) — As we all enjoy our summer fun, the pool, camps, the free time, there’s a cloud lurking on the horizon: summer will end followed by back to school!

What are the must-have Back To School Gadgets for this year? We turned to our gadget guy and host of YouTube’s gadget game show “WHAT THE HECK IS THAT?” Steve Greenberg for some help— here’s what he’s found:

Express Your Feelings Sensory Bottles — these were inspired by hand2mind’s popular Sensory Fidget Tubes, Express Your Feelings Sensory Bottles are a new set of toys featuring colorful, interactive elements that support a child’s social-emotional development. As they flip the securely sealed bottles and watch the glitter gradually fall, they release the energy that big feelings create and start to calm down. The printed faces on every bottle also teach facial and body clues for identifying specific emotions. This toy can be easily incorporated into sensory play or in classrooms to talk about feelings. Includes an Activity Guide designed to encourage discussion and conversation about responding to emotions in positive, proactive ways. The set of bottles are $24.99. To get yours, click here. 

OmieBox Lunchbox — is an insulated bento box for kids. The lunchbox design helps parents pack healthier lunches with more variety. It keeps food hot and cold in the same box.  Perfect for sandwiches, soups, or both—at the same time!  The OmieBox is BPA and Phthalate-free.  Sometimes the best inventions are born out of necessity. Nancy Yen came up with the idea for a hot & cold bento box when her son started preschool. He struggled with eating lunch at school and was often hungry and cranky at pick up. Noticing that he preferred warm entrees over sandwiches, she started noodling on a concept for a kid-friendly bento box that could pack a hot entree, fruits & veggies all in one place. One key design feature is the oversized handle – it’s easy to grab, perfect for young children who are still developing fine motor skills. Lids open and close easily, so your little ones can be independent at school.  It’s $44.95. Get yours by clicking here. 

UVCeed — this is the first personal AI-powered mobile UV-C disinfectant platform for work, home, school, or travel. It attaches to the back of any smartphone and is 99.9 percent effective at killing bacteria and viruses, including SARS-CoV-2 the virus that causes COVID-19 in seconds. Paired with an easy-to-use app, UVCeed gives users the power, visibility and confidence to protect themselves—anytime, anywhere. With the UVCeed device and app, users can actually see what is being disinfected in real-time and receive a notification when the object or surface is 99.9 percent sanitized. No other UV light device does this. With UVCeed safety system, people, pets and vulnerable objects are not exposed to UV-C radiation. UVCeed retails for $149.00. Get yours by clicking here.

Worky Workstation — this is the first-ever portable desk in a box: a complete, organized, and instant workstation in a carrying case. Worky packs up all of one’s desk needs instantly for easy storage to help with clutter, organization and saving space. Once open, the 15 key elements of a productive desk ($300+ worth) are ready for use: built-in power and device charging, built-in video conference light, paperwork storage, magnetic dry erase, and more.  Worky is $149.99. Get yours by clicking here.

BLENDi — BLENDi cuts the cord on traditional blending. The BLENDi allows smoothie lovers to blend anywhere they want with ease. No more waiting to get home. Blend anything from powders to even ice! Replicate your at-home blending experience with the convenience of your water bottle. With an LED display, one-click operation, and rechargeable battery, BLENDi is not just your average shaker bottle. You can now do more than just mix powder. You can actually blend any drink.  BLENDi is a portable 18-ounce cordless blender that’s rechargeable. At the click of a button, it combines anything from powders to fruits and even ice for a tasty and healthy snack or meal. The best part– the blender has enough power to work fast, with an average blend time of just 10 seconds. With BLENDi’s innovative design, one can drink straight from the top of the BLENDi and even convert it into a water bottle just by detaching the base. BLENDi is $79.99. Get yours by clicking here.

Hammacher’s Hands Free Smartphone Comfort Pillow — This is the pliable pillow that holds a smartphone and bends into various shapes and positions. Unlike similar neck pillows, this 56″-long model can be wrapped around a neck, a shoulder, waist, or chair or can also be set up as a free-standing smartphone holder. Filled with microbeads, it provides comfort in any position. It has an internal spine that keeps its shape rigid after posed and a built-in phone holder on the end. Hand washable cover. It comes in royal blue and is 56″ long.  It’s $59.95 at. Get yours by clicking here. 

For more from Steve Greenberg, you can subscribe to his YouTube gadget game show “WHAT THE HECK IS THAT?” Click here to be taken to his game show.

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Originally Appeared Here

As I write this, I can hear a cardinal trilling in the backyard. I don’t have to look out the open window to confirm the source of the sounds that come through it; I’ve come to recognize the songs and their singers. I know it’s the mourning dove whose cooing wakes me in the morning and the sparrow whose repetitive chirps complete the sunrise chorus.

Watching birds perched on a branch or visiting a feeder imparts a certain connection to nature that little else does, and, for me at least, listening to their melodies alleviates stress.

Birds are also the most cost-effective way of reducing the number of pests in your garden. Their young are ravenous consumers of insects, including aphids, whiteflies, cabbage worms, cucumber beetles, grubs, earwigs, stinkbugs and, especially, caterpillars.

According to Doug Tallamy, a University of Delaware professor of entomology and author of “Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants” (Timber Press, 2007), one clutch of chickadees, for instance, requires 6,000 to 9,000 caterpillars, delivered by their parents, to sustain them from birth through first flight, which is just over two weeks. That’ll clean up the garden, to say the least.

To attain these pest-control benefits, you don’t have to be an expert birder. All you need to do is create a bird-friendly habitat.

Using native plants in your garden will feed native insects, which, in turn, will attract hungry birds. Select a mix of plants to provide berries, nectar and/or seeds year-round. The Audubon Society’s Native Plants Database is an excellent source of bird-friendly plant suggestions for your region. Just plug in your zip code to get started. (https://www.audubon.org/native-plants)

Allow flowering perennials to stand over winter, when food is scarce; their seed heads will feed non-migratory birds. As a bonus, your garden will retain vertical interest through the winter.

Push autumn leaves under shrubs and trees instead of placing them at the curb. The insects that buckle down under them during winter will sustain ground-feeding birds. And as the leaves decompose, they’ll enrich the soil to give spring plants a nutritional boost.

To supplement the plant buffet, set a bird feeder in the garden. Select one that comes apart for easy cleaning and that is constructed to keep seeds dry.

To avoid spreading diseases that can sicken birds, provide only enough seeds to last a couple of days, and clean feeders at least twice a month with a bottle brush and 1 part bleach diluted in 9 parts water. Rinse well and allow to dry completely before refilling.

Use only high-quality birdseed; as with everything, you get what you pay for. Choose high-energy seeds high in fat and protein, like unsalted peanuts or black-oil sunflower seeds, especially as summer winds down. Migratory birds need to store calories to prepare for their end-of-season journeys.

Avoid seeds that include artificial colors and flavors, and never set out old or rancid food.

Suet, a nutritious cake made from animal fat and often mealworms, seeds or grains, can be hung in a specialized cage feeder designed to keep out other wildlife.

Rotate the location of feeders to avoid the accumulation of discarded seed shells — and bird droppings — on the ground in one area.

Remember to provide fresh water for bathing and hydration, whether in a pond, birdbath or another container. Be sure to clean and disinfect baths and other vessels every week.

Avoid using chemical insecticides, which won’t necessarily kill pests immediately. Insects that consume or come in contact with the product could go on to be eaten by birds, which can be poisoned as a result.

—-

Jessica Damiano writes regularly about gardening for The Associated Press. A master gardener and educator, she writes The Weekly Dirt newsletter and creates an annual wall calendar of daily gardening tips. Send her a note at [email protected] and find her at jessicadamiano.com and on Instagram @JesDamiano.

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Originally Appeared Here

As monkeypox cases grow to the thousands in the United States, California is the second state in the country — following Illinois — to announce a state of emergency in response to the outbreak. The World Health Organization, New York City and the city of San Francisco did the same last week.

Sacramento County currently has the fifth-most cases of monkeypox in the state, according to data from a state dashboard updated July 28. 

While the dashboard shows men who have sex with men making up the majority of current cases, experts say under-testing means overall monkeypox cases — regardless of one’s sexuality — are higher than shown. That said, vaccination efforts have largely focused on men who have sex with men since community transmission is more likely based on the proportion of cases. 

The virus has different transmission patterns than COVID-19, with the most likely methods of infection prolonged skin-to-skin contact and touching infected surfaces. While it results in fewer hospitalizations, monkeypox infection can still saddle you with a fever and a painful rash that may occur on your genitals, face, hands or feet. Children and immunocompromised people face increased danger if they’re infected.  

In light of its increased capacity to spread, Sacramento-region experts shared what to know about how the virus spreads, what symptoms look like and what resources are available in case you’re infected. 

What is monkeypox, and how is this outbreak different?

Monkeypox is most closely related to smallpox but causes fewer fatalities. It can cause painful rashes on varying areas of the body, a fever, fatigue and swollen lymph nodes. 

Unlike COVID-19, which is a largely airborne virus, monkeypox is more likely to spread through someone touching a contaminated surface — among other ways, like prolonged skin-to-skin contact. It also causes more severe disease in children than adults, the WHO states. 

Monkeypox typically lasts between two to four weeks.

Scientists have known about monkeypox since its discovery in 1958, when the virus — unrelated to monkeys — was discovered in two groups of monkeys kept for research. The first case in humans occurred in 1970, and up until the monkeypox outbreak began at the end of May 2022, the virus has largely been confined to central and west Africa.

“We just haven’t seen this kind of behavior by this virus before,” said Dr. Dean Blumberg, chief of pediatric infectious diseases at UC Davis Health. 

While a monkeypox vaccine exists, Blumberg says this current strain’s inconsistency from its past behavior means that the nation doesn’t have enough stock to keep up with the outbreak.

He offered one explanation for its explosive spread: “The virus must have evolved to have easier human-to human transmission.”

How to spot monkeypox

Smallpox, monkeypox’s closest viral relative, was most often identified by red, evenly-sized bumps that populated the skin in clusters, spreading from the face and throat to the palms, arms, legs and feet. 

However, the rash that develops in response to monkeypox infection can start in a broader range of places: the face, hands, genitals, anus, chest or feet. It might be itchy and look like a cluster of evenly-sized pimples, warts or blisters, though it can also take the appearance of characteristic smallpox bumps.

“The rashes can be very, very, very painful,” said Alexis Sanchez, training and advocacy director at the Sacramento LGBT Center. It’s one of the things she emphasizes in educating people about the virus. 

Blumberg added that monkeypox often starts with a fever and general exhaustion. 

“They just don’t feel well, they feel fatigued and without that much energy,” he said. “There’s a variety of manifestations that can occur besides just the rash.” 

Those include the aforementioned fever and exhaustion, along with headache, respiratory symptoms, swollen lymph nodes and chills. Symptoms can appear as late as three weeks after exposure. 

According to a factsheet from the WHO, a rash will develop within one to three days of fever. A person with monkeypox remains contagious as long as their rashes have not scabbed and fallen off. 

How monkeypox spreads

Monkeypox can spread in multiple ways. 

Blumberg said the most likely ways to be infected are (from most to least likely):

• skin-to-skin contact with an infected person’s rash or lesions
• touching a surface that has been touched by someone with monkeypox
• prolonged contact with respiratory droplets from a person who has the virus. 

“We’ve had some cases where we couldn’t figure out any other way that it was transmitted,” he said of respiratory transmission. “But that’s very rare.” 

Skin-to-skin contact is the highest risk activity, he and Sanchez agree. 

One example Sanchez offered: “If you’re playing basketball with a friend that has monkeypox, and you’re having close skin to skin contact with that person, you’ve run the risk of contracting monkeypox.” 

Because monkeypox rashes can occur around the genitals and anus, sex is another common skin-to-skin contact that has resulted in monkeypox infection. 

Monkeypox can also spread from contaminated linens, Sanchez added.

“If someone with monkeypox rashes borrows your hoodie and you put it on without washing it first, that could be a route of exposure,” she said.

Bedsheets are included in that category, Blumberg said, because “when you sleep, you’re asleep for hours.” 

“If somebody has active monkeypox and sleeps in a bed, and then gets out of bed, and somebody else sleeps in the same bed, we know from past outbreaks in western and central Africa that it can result in transmission,” he said. 

Keeping children safe from exposure is more challenging, Blumberg said.

“Due to their normal developmental stages, they’re going to be less hygienic than adults,” he said. “Especially young children, for example, they want to be held. Schoolchildren, when they go to school and horse around, they’re going to be touching each other.”

He stressed the importance of schools having policies in place that ensure students who have a fever or rash stay home until they’re no longer infectious. 

How to prevent monkeypox infection

One of the most effective prevention measures — “where you get the most bang for your buck”, according to Blumberg — is limiting exposure to places where prolonged skin-to-skin contact is difficult to avoid. That can include clubs, concerts and festivals, and can also look like limiting the amount of skin exposed when in high-risk spaces. 

What’s also important, he added, is practicing safe sex. 

“You don’t have to be a doctor to see a rash, right?” he said. “Somebody can look and see a rash and say, ‘Gee, maybe I’ll pass on this opportunity.’” 

Sanchez underscored the importance of talking about sexual history, even if it’s awkward. 

“Open communication with potential sexual partners about what your activity has looked like, how you’re feeling, communicating risk factors from one person to another,” she recommends.

Orthopoxviruses, closely related to monkeypox, have been shown to survive in a similar household for weeks or months, according to the Centers for Disease Control. In one study, live monkeypox was found 15 days after a patient left their home. 

Clothes, linens, bedsheets and other fabrics — porous surfaces — can hold the virus for longer than hard, nonporous surfaces like plastic, glass and metal. 

The CDC has an overview of best home disinfectant practices. To find specific disinfectants that work against monkeypox on varying surfaces, you can use the Environmental Protection Agency’s registered disinfectant search function. For home settings, you can set the filter options to “Yes” for “For use on Tier 1 viruses?” and “Residential” for “Surface Type.” There’s also an option to filter by porous and nonporous surfaces, along with company name.

Some commonly found disinfectants listed are:

• Clorox Disinfecting Wipes 
• Clorox Multi Surface Cleaner + Bleach
• Oxiclean Laundry and Home Sanitizer
• Windex Disinfectant Cleaner

While respiratory transmission is rare, because it can occur, wearing a mask or good-quality respirator like a N95, KF94 or KN95 can help prevent monkeypox infection via that route. 

What to do if you think you have monkeypox

Despite smallpox’s relation to monkeypox, those who have received a smallpox vaccine aren’t necessarily immune to monkeypox. The level of protection is still being researched, Blumberg said.

“However, immunity wanes since time of vaccination,” he said. “For me, for example, I was vaccinated 55 years ago. I have no clue how much protection I would have from that. Probably some, but I’m just not sure how much.” 

There is a vaccine available for monkeypox, along with an antiviral treatment. The CDPH said, as of July 29, the antiviral treatment, tecovirimat (TPOXX), was being offered at more than 30 locations and providers throughout the state. It’s a two-week regimen of pills.

Monkeypox testing is primarily accessible through health care providers. Yolo County Health Officer Dr. Aimee Sisson urged people to seek testing and vaccination if they think they might have monkeypox. 

“Someone who doesn’t have a provider can go to a free clinic or community health center in Yolo County and get signed up for care,” she said. 

For those who are uninsured or without a primary care physician in Sacramento County, there are also free and sliding scale health clinics available. 

However, because of the unexpected nature of the outbreak, vaccine availability remains limited, with vaccination priority given to close contacts, men who have sex with men — the highest proportion of monkeypox cases — and people “at occupational risk” for monkeypox. 

Sacramento County’s healthcare providers are also urged to prioritize treatment for people who are HIV positive. 

A CDPH press release from July 29 said doses are allocated to public health departments on the basis of the number of reported monkeypox cases in an area and an estimate of at-risk populations, among other factors. 

“We have redistributed vaccines to several community partners and Public Health has partnered with the LGBTQ [sic] Center to host community vaccination clinics,” county department of public health spokesperson Samantha Mott said via email. 

In Sacramento, vaccination is available at Pucci’s Pharmacy by appointment only and via free walk-in clinics held at the LGBT Center. 

“We’re looking to have them weekly in perpetuity,” Sanchez, from the center, said of the clinics. 

While county guidelines limit those who can be vaccinated to men who have sex with men and/or trans people who fit at least one of five specific criteria, she says she’s been telling people “the second I’m eligible for this vaccine, I’m gonna get it.”

“It’s something that’s safe, it’s effective, it’s been available for a relatively long time,” she said. 

Demand for vaccines remains high: during the LGBT Center’s most recent clinic, held on Monday, the center ran out of its vaccine supply in under an hour. The clinic was scheduled to last for four hours or while supplies lasted. 

The center posts information about upcoming clinics on its Instagram @saclgbtcenter and its Facebook. 

For more questions about vaccination, you can reach out to the Sacramento County Immunization Assistance Program at [email protected] from Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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