This article is part of our latest Artificial Intelligence special report, which focuses on how the technology continues to evolve and affect our lives.

Most dog owners intuitively understand what their pet is saying. They know the difference between a bark for Im hungry and one for Im hurt.

Soon, a device at home will be able to understand them as well.

Furbo, a streaming camera that can dispense treats for your pet, snap photos and send you a notification if your dog is barking, provides a live feed of your home that you can check on a smartphone app.

In the coming months, Furbo is expected to roll out a new feature that allows it to differentiate among kinds of barking and alert owners if a dogs behavior appears abnormal.

Thats sort of why dogs were hired in the first place, to alert you of danger, said Andrew Bleiman, the North America general manager for Tomofun, the company that makes Furbo. So we can tell you not only is your dog barking, but also if your dog is howling or whining or frantically barking, and send you basically a real emergency alert.

The ever-expanding world of pet-oriented technology now allows owners to toss treats, snap a dog selfie and play with the cat all from afar. And the artificial intelligence used in such products is continuing to refine what we know about animal behavior.

Mr. Bleiman said the new version of Furbo was a result of machine learning from the video data of thousands of users. It relied on 10-second clips captured with its technology that users gave feedback on. (Furbo also allows users to opt out of sharing their data.)

The real evolution of the product has been on the computer vision and bioacoustics side, so the intelligence of the software, he said. When you have a camera that stares at a dog all day and listens to dogs all day, the amount of data is just tremendous.

The Furbo team is even able to refine the data by the breed or size of a dog: I can tell you, for example, that on average, at least as much as our camera picks up, a Newfoundland barks four times a day and a Husky barks 36 times a day.

Petcube is another interactive pet camera, the latest iteration of which is equipped with the Amazon Alexa voice assistant.

Yaroslav Azhnyuk, the companys chief executive and co-founder, is confident that A.I. is helping pet owners better understand their animals behavior. The company is working on being able to detect unusual behaviors.

We started applying algorithms to understand pet behavior and understand what they might be trying to say or how they are feeling, he said. We can warn you that OK, your dogs activity is lower than usual, you should maybe check with the vet.

Before the coronavirus pandemic forced many pet owners to work from home during the day, they were comforted by the ability to check on their pet in real time, which had driven demand for all kinds of cameras. Mr. Bleiman said the average Furbo user would check on their pet more than 10 times a day during the workweek.

Petcube users spent about 50 minutes a week talking to their pet through the camera, Mr. Azhnyuk said.

The same way you want to call your mom or child, you want to call your dog or cat, he said. Weve seen people using Petcubes for turtles and for snakes and chickens and pigs, all kinds of animals.

Now that shes working from home as part of measures to contain the spread of coronavirus in New York City, Patty Lynch, 43, has plenty of time to watch her dog, Sadie. When shes away from her Battery Park apartment, she uses a Google Nest to keep an eye on her. Ms. Lynch originally bought the camera three years ago to stream video of Sadie while she recovered from surgery.

I get alerts whenever she moves around, Ms. Lynch said. I also get noise alerts if she starts barking at something. Ill be able to go in and then see her in real time and figure out what shes doing.

Sometimes I just like to check in on her, she said. I just look at her and she makes me smile.

Lionel P. Robert Jr., associate professor at the University of Michigans school of information and a core faculty member at Michigans Robotics Institute, said A.I.-enabled technology has so far centered on the owners need for assurance that their pet was OK while they were away from home.

He predicted that future technology would focus more on the wellness of the pet.

There are a lot of people using these cameras because when they see their pet they feel assured and they feel comfortable. Right now, its less for the pet and more for the humans, he said.

Imagine if all that data was being fed to your veterinarian in real time and theyre sending back data. The idea of well-being for the pet, its weight, how far its walking.

Mr. Robert noted that other parts of the world had gone a step further with technology: Theyre actually adopting robotic pets.

While products like Petcube and Furbo are mostly used by dog owners, there are A.I. devices out there for cats as well. Many people track them throughout the day using interactive cameras, and one start-up has devised an intelligent laser for automated playtime.

Yuri Brigance came up with the idea about four years ago, after his divorce. He was away from the house, working up to 10 hours a day, and was worried about his two cats at home.

This idea came up of using a camera to track animals, where their positions are in the room and moving the laser intelligently instead of randomly so that they have something more real to chase, he said.

The result was Felik, a toy that can be scheduled via an app for certain playtimes and has features such as zone restriction, which designates areas in the home the laser cant go, such as on furniture.

Mr. Brigance said his product did not store video in the cloud and required an internet connection to work, like many video products. It analyzes data in the device.

We use machine-learning models to perform whats called semantic segmentation, which is basically separating the background, the room and all the objects in it, from interesting objects, things that are moving, like cats or humans, Mr. Brigance explained.

The device then determines where the cat has been and what it is currently doing, and predicts what it is about to do next, so it can create a playful game that mirrors chasing live prey.

The laser toy, Mr. Brigance said, has provided his cats, and those of his customers, with hours upon hours of playtime.

Some people are using it almost on a daily basis and theyre recording things like where they used to have a cat that would scratch furniture, that would get really agitated if it had nothing to do, that this actually prevents them from destroying the house, he said.

Or cats that meow in the morning and try to wake up their owners if you set a schedule for this thing to activate in the morning, it can distract the cat and let you sleep a little bit longer.

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With A.I., the Secret Life of Pets Is Not So Secret - The New York Times

Bluecore, the retail marketing technology company that more than 400 retailers rely on to launch highly personalized campaigns at scale, announced that it has been namedGoogle Cloud Technology Partner of the Year for Retail, for the second year in a row.

Bluecorewas recognized for its achievements in the Google Cloud ecosystem for giving retailers the ability to launch highly personalized campaigns that result in driving repeat purchase and increase brand loyalty.

This year also marks the deepening of Bluecores relationship with Google Cloud, with the first of a series of joint initiatives between the two companies. In April, Bluecore and Google Cloud will be co-hosting the first DTC Collectivean invite-only conversation among top retail executives, led by Carrie Tharp, VP Retail of Google Cloud,andBluecoreCEO Fayez Mohamood.

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Bluecorespatented technology is designed specifically for retailers and built natively on Google Cloud, whose infrastructure is designed to scale digital performance across enterprise brands with a direct-to-consumer business model. As a result of the partnership, retail marketing organizationsonce reliant on legacy technologies and internal departments to access and action customer dataare able to launch personalized, insights-driven campaigns within minutes.

We appreciate the recognition from Google Cloud as we continue the valuable work were doing together, said Fayez Mohamood, CEO,Bluecore. Our team is pleased to be able to continue to bring our solution to Google Cloud customers and expand our relationship with a series of thought leadership and actionable customer insights for retailers.

Currently in use by more than 400 retailers, including Express, Tommy Hilfiger, The North Face, TomboyX and Bass Pro Shops,Bluecoreleverages Google Cloud to surface actionable insights at the intersection of 500+ million customer profiles and a combined product catalog of over 150 million products.

Bluecoresmachine learning models then determine each shoppers lifetime value, product affinities, receptivity to discounts, likelihood to convert, and other traits to inform the best next communication. Marketers can act on these insights and create strategies in Bluecores campaign workflow within minutes, creating personalized shopper communications via email or during a shoppers experience on a brands ecommerce sites.

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Were delighted to recognize Bluecore as the 2019 Google Cloud Technology Partner of the Year for Retail, said Kevin Ichhpurani, Corporate Vice President, Global Partner Ecosystem at Google Cloud. Retail customers can leverage Bluecores AI- and analytics-driven marketing tools on Google Cloud to better identify customers needs and habits, ultimately helping to connect shoppers with the content and products they want. We look forward to a continued partnership with Bluecore to help retail organizations modernize their data and marketing practices with the cloud.

This announcement follows the recent publication ofBluecores research studywith Forrester Consulting, which highlights the need for retailers to leverage technology that allows them to offer their customers the personalized experience that retailers get from working with Bluecore and Google Cloud.

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Bluecore Named Google Cloud's 'Technology Partner of the Year for Retail' - AiThority

Its odd to consider weve been in the midst of this crisis for a month now. We all face a multitude of daunting hurdles some much more than others and yet we continue on each day.

Despite a devastating blow, arts and culture in this town continues to produce creative expression and adjust to new platforms. With not even one public gathering scheduled over the next several weeks, CAFE 541 still has multiple local productions to choose from.

We give thanks that closed doors and social distance has done nothing to quiet human expression. (And be sure to hit us up at #CAFE_541 for all of the many great events we didnt mention.)

Travel Oregon at Home

Nothings better in springtime than getting out and about in our endless outdoor playground. With COVID-19 curbing many activities, Travel Oregon provides a "Families Guide To Oregon Activities at Home" to those cooped up inside together.

Surf to traveloregon.com to find the free guide that includes fun coloring activities, writing prompts, Oregon-centric games, Native history, whale watching and much more.

National Poetry Month

Thanks to local poetry slam queen Jorah LaFleur for reminding us that April is National Poetry Month. What better way to while away the day than string together a few lines that reflect the times or read up on the innumerable lyrical declarations at our fingertips.

Whether its reading or writing just one poem, verse brings perspective and opens up the world in ways that we may never have imagined. Check out Jorahs Facebook page for different locals taking part in the challenge and go to poets.org/national-poetry-month to find 30 way to celebrate poetry.

Practice mindfulness

Home seclusion distills down to a choice of few diversions, some of which might be driving us up the wall right now. One positive way to make use of still time is to be still ourselves. Mindfulness practice asks us to filter reality to right now because there is no time like the all-encompassing present.

Mindfulness takes a multitude of forms. Calysta Cheyenne, lead singer of local band Fortunes Folly, offers a free outdoor session on Facebook. And for moms and dads, Parents Magazine goes into the details of suggestions, like listening walks, mindful eating and self-body scans.

The Eugene Insight Meditation Community also now has online discussions. The Greater Good Institute, Berkeley, offers articles, lessons and quizzes on the subject. For a listen, Western philosopher Alan Watts wonderful logical journey through existential thought is a good place to begin.

Online exhibitions

As arts advocates here at CAFE 541, were always excited at a collision of cultural worlds. The Morrison Hotel Gallery offers one of those happy impacts with fine art music photographs. Representing the archives of more than 125 renowned music photographers, MHGs vast catalog of images encompasses several generations of jazz, blues and rock icons.

Search its more than 100,000 images by photographer, music artist, band or concert. Free at morrisonhotelgallery.com.

In addition, we continue our coverage on local and national artists to check out on social media.

Ila Rose instagram.com/ilaroseart

Jerry Ross facebookcom/pittore44

Robert Dandarov instagram.com/robertdandarov

Carla Ciuffo instagram.com/carlaciuffoworks

John St. Christopher instagram.com/christopherst.john

Edward Gorey instagram.com/edwardgorey

Contact reporter Matt Denis at mdenis@registerguard.com or 541-338-2265 and follow him on Instagram @CAFE_541. Want more stories like this? Subscribe to get unlimited access and support local journalism.

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CAFE 541: Matts Picks: Interactive art, games, music and travel all accessible from quarantined homes - The Register-Guard

Ron Purser is a prominent critic of how mindfulness meditation has been at times misused and abused. He wants the practices to be used to fight for more social justice and to fuel societal changes to reduce burnout and stress. He is a professor of Management at San Francisco University and author of the book McMindfulness.

We discuss the roots of meditation practices, their spread and corporatization,and whether suffering is in our minds or in the outside world and in how our society is structured. (Our conversation has been condensed and edited for clarity.)

What is your personal experience with meditation?

It goes back to when I was an undergraduate in college. I was dabbling with numerous things back in those days. Many people were. I had actually moved out to Northern California, to the San Francisco Bay Area. There was a Tibetan Buddhist teacher who had an institute in Berkeley just north of the University of California. I started taking courses there. Everyone was reading books by Alan Watts he was the one who sort of popularized Zen. I started taking classes at this Tibetan Buddhist Institute. Ive been affiliated with them since then thats about 35- 40 years or so. I was coming more out of the Zen tradition and Tibetan Buddhist tradition: mindfulness is not really central to either of those.

What is your criticism of how mindfulness is practiced today?

Mindfulness is always practiced within some sort of context whether its a religious context or whether its a medical therapeutic practice. Its not a standalone practice by any means, even though people may consider it to be. So, when its completely severed from any kind of ethically informed context, whatever environment it is being deployed in becomes the context for the practice. So if its deployed for corporations and the underlying unspoken context is this will help you to be more productive, then that informs the practice.

How would you summarize the core argument of your book and its critique of corporate mindfulness?

There are two key messages. That mindfulness as a standalone technique is misguided. Number two, to send a message to people that your well-being, your health, your sense of success in the world is completely within your own control by practicing mindfulness is wrong. In other words, Im against the idea that true happiness is a skill, that you can hack your brain or train your brain and it doesnt depend on your social or economic circumstances. So its an ideological critique: against the idea of rugged individualism, that the individual needs to learn to adapt to the social, political and economic conditions, even if theyre toxic. Thats really a myth: resilience has a lot to do with whether you can access external community and environmental resources. You could be less stressed and more healthy if you have access to these resources and its not just about turning to an app to temporarily destress it also matters whether you have a healthy community, whether you have health care, whether you have child care, whether you have a living wage.

Do you think meditation can be harnessed to help people fight for social justice and make our society more centred around wellbeing, or do you think its largely focused on individual people improving their lives?

If you try to turn to the Buddhist tradition historically for any sort of radical application of mindfulness, you are not going to find it. Traditionally, Buddhism has relied on state support for monasteries, kings and emperors and so forth. Meditators were not going to become political or radicalized and question the social and political order. But you do see adaptations within very small segments of the Western Buddhist community, who have socially engaged Buddhists that are trying to say, look, we can use these practices in ways that can prevent social activists from getting burnt out. Its still been more of an individual service model helping people become a little more resilient. But yes, there are innovators out there asking if we can do something besides therapeutic applications for mindfulness.

As youre still meditating and have been for decades, where do you see meditation practices as having the most use?

Well, yeah, certainly. Im not denigrating people getting benefits or therapeutic gains. I really try to make that clear in the book. Thats not what Im critiquing. My critique is at the ideological level and the messaging of how these practices have been portrayed and presented. Obviously there is benefit in terms of reducing mental ruminations and reducing stress, theres no doubt that they work in that respect. Im not really critiquing the individual beneficial effects. My fear is with individualizing public health problems, or structural social problems. I go into the history of how stress was privatized and pathologized. Its reductionistic to say stress is just a maladaptation, our inability to adapt to the environment and its all inside our heads.

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As they say, do the Tao now.

Many of us have turned to spiritual books and meditational practices in order to cope with the unrelenting stress that our present COVID-19 situation gives us. With nothing but time on our hands, we're home and we're starting to grow bored.

Yes, it's fun to pretend this is one big Netflix-Hulu-Prime Marathon of the Gods, but the truth is,we're nervous, and television entertainment is only acting as a band-aid, a temporary suture for our fear and depression.

I have been a student of Eastern philosophy for my entire life, and though I'm not a religious person, I do dabble in the practices that give me peace and lift me up. I've lived in an ashram where I studied yoga and pranayama, the practice of breathing; read all the books by Alan Watts on Zen Buddhism; grew up with Paganism and Witchcraft; learned the ways of High Magick, tantra and mantra meditation.

It was always hard for me to walk the Abrahamic paths, and Western religions left me cold. Of all the paths I've walked, the one that works best for me is the Tao. And it is the Tao that is getting me through the crisis.

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It isthe way, the path, the road. It is the natural order of the universe.It is nature.

The Tao, pronounced "dow," is a mysterious concept, not able to be fully known, but intuited, felt. The Tao is the universe, and our awareness of it as infinite, perfect and eternally nameless. The study of the Tao is called Taoism.

When we align ourselves with the Tao, we are in full acceptance of nature and her ways. It is the momentwe know in our heart that what is happening at any given moment is both part of the plan and as it should be, no matter what is occurring.

This may feel uncomfortable at first, but when we know ourselves as part of the ever flowing universal energy,we fear nothing and accept all. We become bigger than our limited understanding of this terrifying virus.We become at peace with all things.

The wisdom of the Tao is brought to us by the enlightened being named Lao Tzu, who gave us the magnificent manuscript entitledTao te Ching:The Book of the Way. These 81 poetic and thought-provoking verses help us to stay balanced; they enable us to seek contentment in whatever our earthly situation is.

If we are able to master our minds, then the world of "things" and situations are a mere play of consciousness. Nature gives and takes, and we are here to witness.

It would be impossible to understand the Tao in one sitting, but one reading fromTao te Ching definitely has the power to attract you, as we all seek peace.The Tao is a place of ultimate peace and solace.

I hope you can see into them and allow them to penetrate your fear.

1. Everything is part of the whole.

When we "do the Tao now," we accept that everything is part of the unending flow of the universe.

If you realize that all things change, there is nothing you will try to hold on to. If you are not afraid of dying, there is nothing you cannot achieve.

2. Accept, don't change.

Try not to see what is wrong with this or that. Instead, come to accept things as they are, and you will find the beauty in all situations.

If you try to change it, you will ruin it. Try to hold it, and you will lose it.

3. Desire causes pain.

When we desire, we set ourself up for disappointment. Unfulfilled desire turns to anger and frustration.

To understand the limitation of things, desire them.

4. We need leaders, not pushers.

Arrogance limits us. If we are ever to be a light to others, we must understand that leadership is not about forcing our will, but of understanding what people want and need.

All streams flow to the sea because it is lower than they are. humility gives it its power. If you want to govern the people, you must place yourself below them. if you want to lead the people, you must learn how to follow them.

5. The wisdom of age is real.

When we are very young, we think we know it all. But life has lessons for us, and as each one comes, we begin to understand that these lessons will never end.

The further one goes, the less one knows.

6. Lust and greed cause chaos.

The human spirit is made weaker when we spend too much time dwelling on the thousand things that we want. When we do not want, we live in peace.

When there is no desire, all things are at peace.

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7. True love is found in letting go.

We needn't prove things. What we are, and who we are should be enough. When we give of ourselves purely, we receive more than we ever thought possible.

True words aren't eloquent;

eloquent words aren't true.

Wise men don't need to prove their point;

men who need to prove their point aren't wise.

The Master has no possessions.

The more he does for others,

the happier he is.

The more he gives to others,

the wealthier he is.

8. Duality defines life on Earth.

If we accept that all things are balanced by their polar opposite, we come to know that all experiences are part of the whole experience. Bad will become good, and vice versa, over time.

Hope and fear are both phantoms that arise from thinking of the self. When we don't see the self as self, what do we have to fear?

9. Trust in the universal flow of all things.

The Tao nature is the only reality. When we force things into being like love orbusinesswe are assuming those things wouldn't work without our prodding. They will. Do the Tao now.

Rushing into action, you fail.

Trying to grasp things, you lose them.

Forcing a project to completion,

you ruin what was almost ripe.

Therefore the Master takes action

by letting things take their course.

He remains as calm at the end

as at the beginning.

He has nothing,

thus has nothing to lose.

What he desires is non-desire;

what he learns is to unlearn.

He simply reminds people

of who they have always been.

He cares about nothing but the Tao.

Thus he can care for all things.

10. Understand the Law of Polarity.

All things are balanced with their opposite. If we insist on doing things one way, we must come to understand that the opposite effect is not only possible, but probable.

Not-knowing is true knowledge.

Presuming to know is a disease.

First realize that you are sick;

then you can move toward health.

RELATED:50 Ancient Quotes About Life And Love

11. Release the need for stress.

Trust in the idea that if you let go, you will get your answer. Quiet minds hold infinite knowledge. Noisy minds hold very little other than noise.

Let it be still, and it will gradually become clear.

12. Humility is understanding.

Brash behavior only shows weakness and neurosis. One cannot help their fellow human until we come to terms with the idea that we are all flawed, with the potential within us for greatness.

A great nation is like a great man:

When he makes a mistake, he realizes it.

Having realized it, he admits it.

Having admitted it, he corrects it.

He considers those who point out his faults

as his most benevolent teachers.

He thinks of his enemy

as the shadow that he himself casts.

13. The universe flows freely, and so must we.

If we wish to understand who we are, what our place is in this universe, we must give up the notion that we know it all. Let go of your preconceived ideas in order to find out what the truth is. Make way for the truth by letting go of the lies of the mind.

The world belongs to those who let go.

(If you're interested in the Tao, read the Tao te Ching, and supplement the readings with further discourse by Dr. Wayne Dyer.)

Being of the Tao has really helped me during this crisis. It's good to feel like a candle that continues to burn as the wind around me blows. That is the Tao that is the feeling of peace one can have all the time, even in the face of calamity. Do the Tao now.

For further reading, here are a few books to look into:

RELATED:How Embracing The Japanese Aesthetic Of Wabi-Sabi Deepens Intimacy In Love & Relationships

DoriHartley is a portrait artist, essayist and a journalist. She's been published in The Huffington Post,ParentDish, The Daily Beast, Psychology Today,XOJane,MyDailyand The Stir. Her art booksBeauty, Antler Velvet, and 'MadsMikkelsen: Portraits of the Actor' are allavailable on Amazon.

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What Is Tao? + 13 Quotes From Eastern Philosophy To Help You Cope With Coronavirus Anxiety - YourTango

The Director of Ohios Department of Health, Dr. Amy Acton, is no stranger to adversity. She was once abused by one of her mothers partners, she bounced around to about 18 different living arrangements in her youth and she even spent one winter living in a tent. But she says her familiarity with disarray positioned her to be ready for a different catastrophe: the gravest pandemic the United States has seen in over 100 years.

I think because of the childhood I had, she tells TIME via video chat from the Ohio Statehouse, that Im at my best during a crisis.

Her collective calm amid calamity has played out in front of the Buckeye State and the nation. Before the CDC began issuing nationwide and universal social distancing guidelines, the state health official was working with her Columbus city counterparts to limit the potential for the spread of disease at an annual fitness festival that was expected to draw a couple hundred thousand visitors and at least 22,000 athletes from 80 different countries. With Republican Gov. Mike DeWine and Acton at the helm, Ohio became the first state to shut down all public schools for an extended period of time on March 12. And just five days later, Acton issued a decree cancelling non-essential or elective surgeries and procedures that require personal protective equipmenteven before New York, Americas epicenter of the virus, announced it was pausing elective procedures.

While President Donald Trump claimed the virus is going away on April 3 and tweeted that we were approaching a LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL! (emphasis his) on April 6, Acton has been using her daily press briefing to treat the rising COVID-19 death tolls and lack of testing resources like the virulent crisis that it is. Today is the day we have to batten down those hatches, she somberly urged at her March 22 press conference. There is no time left. Listen to what Italy is telling us. On April 7, she doubled down: Youre winning the war to protect our scarce resources and keeping our hospitals being able to deal with this. The second we let our foot off the gas, the second we are no longer that category 3 hurricane, it can pick up wind again and we can be a category 5.

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Though the warning bells have gotten louder over time, Acton says they first entered her radar in early January. She was on a frightening phone call with the Centers for Disease and Control where a global epidemiologist was talking about an erratic illness that was spreading across Chinas Wuhan region. Something about her voice and what she was saying made me think this is zoonotic, which means transmitted from animals.

She sounded a little more alarmed, Acton says of the global epidemiologists message.

Acton, who holds both a medical degree and masters in public health, leapt into action. I went straight to my state epidemiologist, and I was like, Lets talk about this coronavirus. And that began the adventure. Honestly, it has been seven days a week since then.

Her prescient unease has likely saved lives in Ohio. The states coronavirus figures are lagging behind that of its peers. For example, Georgiawhich recently reopened its beaches to the publichas a smaller population size than Ohio, but almost double both the number of confirmed cases and deaths. While Ohio is the seventh most populous state in the nation, it ranks seventeenth in confirmed cases and fifteenth in confirmed coronavirus-related deaths.

Robyn Petras, a 53-year-old Lancaster, Ohio, resident credits Acton for keeping the tallies so low, even though Petras personally tested positive for the virus on March 24.

Petras has Cystic Fibrosis, a lung disease that causes thick mucus to build up in her lungs, which can affect respiratory function. After watching the state health official speak about the common COVID-19 symptoms on television, Petras wondered whether the virus might be causing her low-grade fever, dry cough and fatigue. The realization led her to connect with her Cystic Fibrosis team that recommended she adjust her treatment protocol in order to fend off more severe coronavirus systems, in anticipation of a positive diagnosis. Her sincere and calming presence, mixed with her compassion and medical knowledge gave me comfort and courage to take the virus head on, Petras says of Acton. I absolutely credit them for their quick and proactive action for not only saving my life, but the lives of my family and friends, she adds of Acton and DeWine.

And Petras is far from the only fan. A local apparel company designed shirts and sweatshirts in Actons honor with the slogan, Not All Heroes Wear Capes, with proceeds benefiting at-risk youths, like Acton once was. Further, more than 120,000 people have joined a Dr. Amy Acton fan page on Facebook, where some have even turned Acton and DeWines 2 p.m. briefings into Snackin with Acton and Wine with DeWine happy hours.

Actons ascension to the spotlight has not been without criticism, however. Back in mid-March, she indicated that the presence of community spread meant that at least 1% percent of all Ohio residents were carrying the virus. We have 11.7 million people, she reasoned at the time. So the math is over 100,000. Some experts were quick to cast doubt on the claim as an exaggeration. But if it was an overestimate, it also served as a reminder that many still claim the U.S. doesnt have enough testing kits or resources to know for sure.

Keep up to date on the growing threat to global health by signing up for our daily coronavirus newsletter.

I do believe when we go back and look, we will find that people died and had this that were never detected, way before that moment I spoke, she says. She also clarifies that the alarming 100,000 figure was meant to include those who were completely asymptomatic.

Acton indicates shed rather arm people with as much relevant insight as possible at her press briefings than keep them in the dark. I really believe that people, when given the information, will use that to help themselves feel prepared. Im a person who likes to know the reality, she says. Maybe my childhood led to that, too.

To compile and disseminate that information during the current pandemic, Acton wakes up in the wee hours of the morning and is fielding calls from Governor DeWine by 7 a.m. She then prepares for the press briefings, communicates with health administrators and other state and local health actors, and then works in the states emergency operations center before she finally crashes in bed between 8 and 10 p.m.

Not everyone needs to help lead a states pandemic response to make a difference, though. By staying home when youre able, helping to supply those in need when you can and keeping in touch with loved ones during this period of isolation, all of us can do our part to help flatten the curve. I used to say if aliens invaded us, it would be a blessing. Wed all finally be on the same team. Wed have this common enemywell that is now, she argues. Im an ordinary person. So if I can be doing something extraordinary seeming, every one of you can.

But even she tries to carve out time for herself amid the chaos. I get up around 4 a.m. because thats a quiet time for me where I read and catch up, she says. When she was a child living in a dreary basement, Acton says she turned to books like Charlottes Web, the Hardy Boys and Little House on the Prairie to escape from her reality. I read and knew that it could be different than this, she recalls. These days, her reading material consists largely of COVID-19 news and research rather than tales of farm animals and mystery. Though, she notes that she does have an assortment of lighter literature by the likes of Bren Brown, Joseph Campbell and Alan Watts waiting for her once the pandemic subsides.

My husband makes fun of it because its like a dust-collecting pile of colorful books, she says of her collection, but they give me comfort to have them there. It goes to show that some thingslike what brings us peace in turmoilnever change.

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Home Website National Another Indore Doctor, Who Tested COVID-19 Positive 3 Days Ago, Dies At MP Hospital

A doctor, who tested positive for Coronavirus, died Friday morning in Madhya Pradesh's Indore, the second such case in as many days.

Dr. Om Prakash Chauhan, a general physician, ran a private clinic in Indore's Marimata Chauraha areaand had tested positive for the virus three days ago. He was admitted to Aurobindo Hospital and was on ventilator support.

On Thursday, another doctor had died due to COVID-19 related complications. Dr. Shatrughan Panjwani, who had tested positive for the infection earlier this week, succumbed to it on Thursday around 4:30 am.

Both Panjwani and Chauhan were receiving treatment at the Sri Aurobindo Hospital. The two doctors, said official sources, were not involved in the treatment of Covid-19 patients.

"Carriers of the infection can remain asymptomatic for the initial 3-4 days after contracting the virus while initial symptoms also resemble common flu. There is a possibility that people who have been infected and show mild symptoms like nasal congestion or sore throat are visiting general physicians in their locality and passing on the virus. We have to be doubly alert about such cases," said a doctor at a private hospital where Panjwani had been admitted before being shifted to the Aurobindo Hospital.

The district administration, say sources, is now trying to trace people who may have visited the clinics of Panjwani and Chauhan over the past 14 days.

More here:
Another Indore Doctor, Who Tested COVID-19 Positive 3 Days Ago, Dies At MP Hospital - Outlook India

Reits, Real estate investment trust concept, cube wooden block with alphabet combine the word Reit... [+] on dark black background.

I know theres not much room for trust these days. I know the world feels like its been turned upside down.

I know theres not much that seems stable right now, especially after Sundays announcement that the White House is recommending social distancing measures through the end of April.

For many, that means lack of income for an entire month on top of two or three weeks of joblessness. And that automatically means less money going into an already hurting economy.

Businesses are shuttered perhaps for good. And even those still open with the exception of grocery and drug stores are still bleeding money overall.

Its an unprecedented situation, as we keep hearing. And so we have unprecedented issues to deal with.

But that doesnt mean we cant deal with them. That doesnt mean there wont be business survivors out of this.

The way Im crunching the numbers which is each and every way possible I believe that real estate investment trusts will be among those business survivors.

I believe that so much, Im willing to put my own money into them even now.

Dont Jump Right In. Consider Carefully First.

Before you jump into the markets to buy up every REIT, please dont get me wrong: Im not saying every REIT will survive.

To be clear, some most definitely will not.

Right now, the entire mall sector isnt looking good, Ill admit. And there are a few other areas that are shaky at best.

But as an overall sector, REITs provide about as good of a long-term protection/profit combination as possible. Subject expert Nareit explains:

REITs are total return investments. They typically provide high dividends plus the potential for moderate, long-term capital appreciation. Long-term total returns of REIT stocks tend to be similar to those of value stocks and more than the returns of lower-risk bonds.

As it goes on to note, there are five major reasons to invest in such investments:

That last one is especially important, since it more often than not means REITs have low correlation with their fellow stocks as well as bonds.

Meanwhile, here are some further insights about them from iREITinvestor.com:

Concerning liquidity There are 200+ REITs traded on U.S. stock exchanges with a combined equity market capitalization of more than $1 trillion.

Concerning transparency REITs provide added visibility into their finances and operations.

And concerning performance

REITs track record of delivering reliable, growing dividends, as well as a long-term capital appreciation through stock price increases, has historically provided investors with total returns that are competitive with those of other stocks and higher than most fixed-income investments.

As for their much-hailed dividends, I saved that for last for a reason. Because its only fair to point out that everything listed above is pre-coronavirus information. It was published last year or earlier.

However, that doesnt make it inaccurate.

The Short and Long of the REIT Situation

For the last few weeks, REITs have been cutting or completely suspending their dividends hardly attractive actions considering how thats one of their claims to fame.

Nobodys ignoring that fact. If anything, the entire real estate industry is fixated on it, including The Real Deal, which wrote last week:

while REITs may already be cutting dividends and paying out more in stock than investors may like, experts said it would be unlikely for REITs to all together ditch their designation a process called de-REITing in an effort to keep cash on hand to run operations.

Instead, theyre taking unprecedented steps to survive during unprecedented times.

Moreover, on March 27, Sarah Borchersen-Keto wrote this for Nareit: Strong Pre-Crisis Real Estate Fundamentals Will Help Sector Navigate Current Volatility. The piece involved an interview with CBREs Head of Occupier Research, Americas, Julie Whelan, including this segment:

Fundamentals in the real estate sector were strong heading into the crisis, Whelan observed, as she pointed to solid occupancy levels and a disciplined approach to construction. All of that has set us up to weather the storm that were in quite well, she said.

So the roiling markets aside, we expect this time ultimately wont be different. REITs are still a worthwhile holding.

Its just that also not one bit different from the norm we dont want to go into these investments blindly. We dont want to go into any investment blindly.

As I wrote earlier in this article, not every REIT will survive this crisis. Just like not every REIT or bank or other business survived the last one.

So keep your head on straight. Dont fall for price alone. Dont fall for yield alone.

Fall for fundamentals instead. Which companies have it? Which companies dont.

There are no guarantees in life. But the more have-its you put in your portfolio together today, the more of a portfolio youll have when this coronavirus crisis is past.

Read the original here:
Put Your Trust in Real Estate Investment Trusts - Forbes

The Covid-19 pandemic underscores the urgent need to strengthen the global health workforce. A new report,The State of the Worlds Nursing 2020, provides an in-depth look at the largest component of the health workforce.Findings identify important gaps in the nursing workforce and priority areas for investment in nursing education, jobs, and leadership to strengthen nursing around the world and improve health for all. Nurses account for more than half of all the worlds health workers, providing vital services throughout the health system. Historically, as well as today, nurses are at the forefront of fighting epidemics and pandemics that threaten health across the globe. Around the world they are demonstrating their compassion, bravery and courage as they respond to the COVID-19 pandemic: never before has their value been more clearly demonstrated.

Nurses are the backbone of any health system. Today, many nurses find themselves on the frontline in the battle against Covid-19, said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director General. This report is a stark reminder of the unique role they play, and a wakeup call to ensure they get the support they need to keep the world healthy.

The report, by the World Health Organization (WHO)in partnership with the International Council of Nurses (ICN) and Nursing Now, reveals that today, there are just under 28 million nurses worldwide. Between 2013 and 2018, nursing numbers increased by 4.7 million. But this still leaves aglobal shortfall of 5.9 million - with the greatest gaps found in countries in Africa, South East Asia and the WHO Eastern Mediterranean region as well as some parts of Latin America.

Revealingly, more than 80 per cent of the worlds nurses work in countries that are home to half of the worlds population. And one in every eight nurses practices in a country other than the one where they were born or trained. Ageing also threatens the nursing workforce: one out of six of the worlds nurses are expected to retire in the next 10 years.

To avert the global shortage, the report estimates that countries experiencing shortages need to increase the total number of nurse graduates by on average 8% per year, along with improved ability to be employed and retained in the health system. This would cost roughly USD 10 per capita (population) per year.

Politicians understand the cost of educating and maintaining a professional nursing workforce, but only now are many of them recognizing their true value, said ICN President Annette Kennedy. Every penny invested in nursing raises the wellbeing of people and families in tangible ways that are clear for everyone to see. This report highlights the nursing contribution and confirms that investment in the nursing profession is a benefit to society, not a cost. The world needs millions more nurses, and we are calling on governments to do the right thing, invest in this wonderful profession and watch their populations benefit from the amazing work that only nurses can do.

About 90 per cent of all nurses are female, yet few nurses are found in senior health leadership positions-- the bulk of those positions are held by men. But when countries enable nurses to take a leadership role, for example by having a government chief nursing officer (or equivalent), and nursing leadership programmes, conditions for nurses improve.

This report places much-needed data and evidence behind calls to strengthen nursing leadership, advance nursing practice, and educate the nursing workforce for the future, said Lord Nigel Crisp, Co-Chair of Nursing Now. The policy options reflect actions we believe all countries can take over the next ten years to ensure there are enough nurses in all countries, and that nurses use of the full extent of their education, training, and professional scope to enhance primary health care delivery and respond to health emergencies such as COVID-19.This must start with broad and intersectoral dialogue which positions the nursing evidence in the context of a countrys health system, health workforce, and health priorities.

To equip the world with the nursing workforce it needs, WHO and its partners recommend that all countries:

The reports message is clear: governments need to invest in a massive acceleration of nursing education, creation of nursing jobs, and leadership. Without nurses, midwives, and other health workers, countries cannot win the battle against outbreaks, or achieve universal health coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Read more:
WHO and partners call for urgent investment in nurses - World Health Organization

If you own shares in iMetal Resources Inc. (CVE:IMR) then it's worth thinking about how it contributes to the volatility of your portfolio, overall. In finance, Beta is a measure of volatility. Volatility is considered to be a measure of risk in modern finance theory. Investors may think of volatility as falling into two main categories. The first category is company specific volatility. This can be dealt with by limiting your exposure to any particular stock. The other type, which cannot be diversified away, is the volatility of the entire market. Every stock in the market is exposed to this volatility, which is linked to the fact that stocks prices are correlated in an efficient market.

Some stocks mimic the volatility of the market quite closely, while others demonstrate muted, exagerrated or uncorrelated price movements. Beta can be a useful tool to understand how much a stock is influenced by market risk (volatility). However, Warren Buffett said 'volatility is far from synonymous with risk' in his 2014 letter to investors. So, while useful, beta is not the only metric to consider. To use beta as an investor, you must first understand that the overall market has a beta of one. A stock with a beta greater than one is more sensitive to broader market movements than a stock with a beta of less than one.

See our latest analysis for iMetal Resources

Looking at the last five years, iMetal Resources has a beta of 1.73. The fact that this is well above 1 indicates that its share price movements have shown sensitivity to overall market volatility. Based on this history, investors should be aware that iMetal Resources are likely to rise strongly in times of greed, but sell off in times of fear. Share price volatility is well worth considering, but most long term investors consider the history of revenue and earnings growth to be more important. Take a look at how iMetal Resources fares in that regard, below.

TSXV:IMR Income Statement April 9th 2020

iMetal Resources is a noticeably small company, with a market capitalisation of CA$3.6m. Most companies this size are not always actively traded. Relatively few investors can influence the price of a smaller company, compared to a large company. This could explain the high beta value, in this case.

Since iMetal Resources tends to move up when the market is going up, and down when it's going down, potential investors may wish to reflect on the overall market, when considering the stock. In order to fully understand whether IMR is a good investment for you, we also need to consider important company-specific fundamentals such as iMetal Resourcess financial health and performance track record. I highly recommend you dive deeper by considering the following:

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.

We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.

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How Does Investing In iMetal Resources Inc. (CVE:IMR) Impact The Volatility Of Your Portfolio? - Yahoo Finance