Dr. Richard Ruhling taught Health Science at Loma Linda University, a community featured in a National Geographic cover story on longevity. "They were trying to find out the secret as to why so many people in my town were living well into their 80's, 90's and even 100 years of age," says Ruhling.

In Dr. Ruhling's new book Health, Happiness & Destiny he shares the secrets of how just about anyone can live an extra 10 years. "I'm 78 years old," says Ruhling, "and I am in better health now than when I was 35! How do I do it? Diet, exercise and faith and staying away from the leading cause of deathPRESCRIPTION DRUGS and Medical Care"

"Funny thing," adds Ruhling, "The Center for Disease Control doesn't even mention medical care in their list of top 10 causes of death! I reveal the truth in my book because so many people don't know what they don't know about prescription drugs"

The Journal of American Medical Assoc. reported 106,000 deaths in hospitals from Adverse Drug Reactions (April 1998). But most people don't die in hospitals. 199,000 died outside the hospital from prescription drugs, reported in the Western Journal of Medicine, (June 2000). Together, they represent 305,000 deaths. From 1998 to 2005, deaths from ADRs increased 2.7 fold. (Archives of Internal Medicine (Sept. 2005).

"Ads on TV promoting new drugs actually cause more use and, you guessed it, more people dying from Adverse Drug Reactions," says Ruhling, "In fact we've had a 2.7 fold increase from TV drug ads since 2007.

Ruhling was board-certified in Internal Medicine and had a Cardiology Fellowship before teaching Health Science at Loma Linda University, a community featured in National Geographic as the only 'Blue Zone' for health in N. America for a preponderance of people living beyond national averages. (Nov, 2005).

"In this essential book, Dr. Ruhling demonstrates how eating right and avoiding bad habits, combined with a strong faith in a higher power, can form the foundation for a healthier lifestyle"

John J. Kelly, Detroit Free Press

Ruhling decries the CDC disinformation because when people don't see drugs as a leading cause of death and they think they may die from heart disease, they are more inclined to take drugs for diabetes, high blood pressure or cholesterol and they are at higher risk for doing so.

According to Ruhling, medical care is not healthcare; it's the diagnosis and treatment of diseaseit's disease care and has an inverse relationship to health. The more one sees the doctor and takes prescription drugs, the worse one's health becomes. He says we should remember Hippocrates"Let your food be your medicine" His book shows how this is possible, affirming Pritikin's findings that a low fat, low cholesterol diet helps reverse most chronic conditions including heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes as a growing number of physicians are discovering.

The book has received high praise from many doctors and top reviewers:

"Everyone, young, old, fit or unfit, will benefit greatly from reading this eye-opening book by Richard Ruhling, MD, providing powerful pointers on the important part we play in achieving total mind and body health" Susan Keefe, Midwest Book Review, 5-stars

"This is a splendid book by a man who obviously cares about the radiant life! Accompanying the physical health guidance is the liberal use of scriptural references that provide thoughtful moments of reflection. Highly recommended" Grady Harp, MD, Top 100 Hall of Fame Amazon Reviewer

"A very enjoyable read with a few "aha" moments I wanted more. I found the section on healthcare to be very interesting" Dr. Josh Powell

Health, Happiness & Destiny Come from Wise Choices, is published by Total Health Pub, ISBN 1700465600, 2019 paperback, $6.49, Kindle: $2.99 199 pages, available in fine bookstores everywhere and on Amazon. "Buy it and treat yourself to a meal for your mind," concludes Ruhling.

About Richard Ruhling MD. Author Richard Ruhling earned both his MD and Masters in Public Health from Loma Linda University, followed by a cardiology fellowship and residency in Internal Medicine. He has taught Health Science at Loma Linda University and has become well known for his total health approach for a better life. He has published fifteen books on health issues and religious themes - his WHITE HORSE SERIES and in this new book in that series he combines his advice on health with spiritual thought and the result is richly impressive 'food for thought' and guide for a healthy happy life. Here's Dr. Ruhling with a special message: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vf5B9MAbleg

Media Contact: For a review copy of Health, Happiness & Destiny Come from Wise Choices or to arrange an interview with Dr. Ruhling, contact Scott Lorenz of Westwind Communications Book Marketing at scottlorenz@westwindcos.com or by phone at 734-667-2090. Follow Lorenz on twitter @abookpublicist

Read more from the original source:
What's The #1 Leading Cause of Death? New Book 'Health, Happiness & Destiny' Exposes The Truth- Prescription Drugs - NewsReleaseWire.com

Ann Coulter revealed details of how she was banned and subsequently unbanned from Fox News Channel in a Wednesday-aired interview on SiriusXMs Breitbart News Daily with host Alex Marlow.

Marlow drew on a recently published New Yorker column referencing Coulters recollection of a conversation she had with President Donald Trump regarding the aforementioned banning.

There was a great anecdote in there where you were banned from Fox and then Trump got you unbanned instantly, said Marlow. That was pretty funny.

LISTEN:

Coulter noticed the anecdote as shared by Anntensity, a fan profile on Twitter dedicated to her.

Coulter replied:

I saw that. It was tweeted on Anntensity, a fantastic Ann fan Twitter site. And only as a point of pride I would like to point out that technically it was during the transition I was telling I was begging the president to hire Kris Kobach at HHS. He said, Murdoch is calling me every day, Im only saying this because its out now, anyway Murdochs calling me every day, and I said, Yeah, he opposed you during the campaign and got me banned from Fox when I supported you. Look, Im giving up my career to get you in the White House. Please, just hire Kris Kobach, and he said, Oh, wait. Youre not allowed on Fox? Want me to call Murdoch?And as a point of pride, Id like to say that I said, No. No, Mr. President-elect. All I care about is that you hire Kris Kobach. Were trying to save the country, here.

Coulter then revealed, It was later when I found out it wasnt Murdoch, at all. It was always Hannity. Turns out it wasnt Murdoch, at all. So I guess he called Hannity.

[Former] Goldman Sachs employees have served Trump so well, mused Coulter sarcastically. Its great that Gary Cohn leaked that thing this week about how Trump ordered him to crush some merger because CNN has been bad to him. Yeah, that was fantastic. It was great that you brought in Gary Cohn. Who wouldve thought that hed be a traitor, Mr. President?

It looks really, really bad, said Coulter of claims that Trump directed former White House economic adviser Gary Cohn to block a merger between AT&T and Time Warner: It may not be against the law, but that looks bad if true.

Who did that [allegation] come from? added Coulter, speculating that Cohn shared the aforementioned allegation with the New Yorker. Just the most loyal person you will ever find: Gary Cohn from Goldman Sachs. Another great hire by Jared, she quipped.

President Kushner, joked Coulter along with other members of Trumps family had brought in all the Never Trumpers, and the RNC; the precise people he was running against in order to win the nomination.

Breitbart News Daily broadcasts live on SiriusXM Patriot 125 weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Eastern.

Follow Robert Kraychik onTwitter.

.

Continued here:

Ann Coulter Tells True Story of Being Banned from Fox News

The White House press briefing room this week implemented a temporary seating chart to accommodate the Center for Disease Control and Preventionss social distancing guidelines, but Donald Trumps staff still managed to carve out space for One America News Network, the far-right network known for its pro-Trump content. And on Thursday, that networks correspondent, Chanel Rion used her hard-hitting journalistic chops to ask the president whether he considers the term Chinese food racist, and rant against the left-wing media that consistently [sides] with foreign state propaganda just to oppose Trump.

No summary can do Rions question justice, so here she is in her own words:

Do you consider the term Chinese food racist, because its food that originated from China? And on that note, major left-wing media even in this room have teamed up with Chinese Communist Party narratives, and they are claiming you are racist.

Is it alarming that major media players, just to oppose you, are consistently siding with foreign state propaganda, Islamic radicals and Latin gangs and cartels? And they work right here out of the White House with you and your team!

Trump takes question from far-right OAN personality who asks if term Chinese food is racist, mocking those who take offense to him calling COVID-19 a Chinese virus.

She claims the media is using Chinese communist party narratives.

Trump responds by basheing the press. pic.twitter.com/LknQJ9iQX1

Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) March 19, 2020

Trump, of course, used that remarkable setup to complain about the dishonest media (blah blah blah, weve heard this tune before). As he finished, Rion replied, More than dishonest! Theyre siding with state propaganda!

Members of the press were largely unimpressed with Rions superb contribution to journalistic inquiry. Below is a sample of tweets:

To put a finer point on it the woman from OAN teed up that rant by comparing this to Chinese food. Until today I thought nothing surprised me anymore and Im speechless. https://t.co/7yXMByJ9Ql

Elise Labott (@EliseLabott) March 19, 2020

OAN is not a news organization. Theyre a media arm of the Trump administration and the Trump campaign. Not complicated.

Isaac Saul (@Ike_Saul) March 19, 2020

The OAN personality who asked this question is the same OAN personality who traveled with @RudyGiuliani to Europe and peddled Ukraine conspiracy theories.

Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) March 19, 2020

Were in a pandemic and Trump is bashing the corrupt and fake news after a sympathetic OAN reporter asserts that left-wing news media in the room are pushing Chinese communist party narratives. These briefings are increasingly useless.

Michael Calderone (@mlcalderone) March 19, 2020

OAN is not journalism; its propaganda. The fact they have White House credentials is an insult, and this incredibly offensive question illustrated why. https://t.co/tRLStHKG2a

Kristen M. Clark (@ByKristenMClark) March 19, 2020

OAN is not legitimate news. Its a Trump administration PR arm.

Jeaa (@jeannathomas) March 19, 2020

Trump and OAN turning this Covid-19 press conference into a PSA against journalism is nauseating.

Hal Rudnick (@halrudnick) March 19, 2020

OAN. Thank you, you treat me very nicely, says Trump as she alleges U.S. reporters are teaming up with the Chinese Community Party to smear the president or something, I stopped paying attention.

Jay Willis (@jaywillis) March 19, 2020

Chanel is the idiot who just asked the question for OAN at the White House presser https://t.co/zRbYYAbA7f

Scott Feinberg (@ScottFeinberg) March 19, 2020

OAN lady could ask him about the moon landing and hed start with many people are saying it didnt happen

superchunk (@superchunk) March 19, 2020

A reporter from OAN at this Trump presser is asking a question using rightwing talking points, and you can literally see other journalists in the shot barely keeping themselves from rolling their eyes.

Charlotte Clymer (@cmclymer) March 19, 2020

What is an OAN and how did this idiot get a press credential? pic.twitter.com/dTiuHui8So

Jamie OGrady (@JamieOGrady) March 19, 2020

this OAN woman is an Uncle Tom

David Dennis Jr. (@DavidDTSS) March 19, 2020

OANs questions during the presser are embarrassing even by conservative standards

johnknefel (@johnknefel) March 19, 2020

OAN goes full Q in the briefing room

Joe Lockhart (@joelockhart) March 19, 2020

But it wasnt all bad. At least Ann Coulter liked her:

LOVE the question from the cute OAN gal!

Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) March 19, 2020

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Its through the generosity of our supporters that were able to share with you all the underreported news you need to know. Independent journalism is increasingly imperiled; ads alone cant pay our bills. AlterNet counts on readers like you to support our coverage. Did you enjoy content from David Cay Johnston, Common Dreams, Raw Story and Robert Reich? Opinion from Salon and Jim Hightower? Analysis by The Conversation? Then join the hundreds of readers who have supported AlterNet this year.

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See the rest here:

OAN correspondent goes full Q in the briefing room tells Trump the media has teamed up with foreign state propaganda - AlterNet

Chick-fil-A welcomed hundreds of new customers during its grand opening Thursday.

The fast food chain began serving hungry, new customers bright and early at 6:30 a.m. through its drive-thru window only, due to statewide health department restrictions in relation to the coronavirus.

Joe Bell, spokesman for Cafaro Co., the malls parent company, said the opening marks one of 18 restaurants and eateries at the Ohio Valley Mall that will continue to serve food via carry-out or delivery.

Chick-fil-A Business Manager Hannah Yount said more than 350 people had driven through the drive-thru before noon on the opening day.

We have been pretty steady all day so far. Its been a great turnout, she said.

Employees were busy working in the midst of a lunch rush, she said.

Were cranking through it, she added.

The eatery is famous for serving a variety of chicken entrees including breakfast, lunch and dinner options and has stores across the country.

The Intelligencer/ Wheeling News-Register

As the COVID-19 virus continues to spread across the country, local organizations are reaching out to make sure Weirton residents dont go without.

Numerous local organizations and churches are pulling together to ensure our citizens have food, Mayor Harold Miller said on Thursday.

According to information provided by the mayor, the Weirton Christian Center and Table of Hope will be distributing take-home meals on select days, while food banks will be available through the Salvation Army, Community Bread Basket, Family Resource Center and First United Methodist Church.

The Weirton Christian Center, located at 117 Ivy St., will be providing take-home meals for children between 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Those interested are asked to go to the back of the building for the meal.

Table of Hope, located at 3301 West St., will provide take-out meals between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays.

The Brooke County Commission, Tuesday, discussed local response to the COVID-19 coronavirus and voiced support for the proposed development of a statistical port district in the area.

Mike Bolen, administrator of the countys health department, told the commissioners, Were in the prevention stage right now and we want to keep it that way as much as possible. We want to keep it from spreading.

He said medical researchers are still learning about the disease and health officials are updating public guidelines as they know more.

Were doing the things we know work for now. Social distancing works, Bolen said.

If you look at the state of West Virginia, were not spring chickens, he said, noting the state has a high percentage of senior citizens.

Public health officials have said the disease presents the greatest risk to the elderly and people with chronic health conditions.

If we dont do anything, we have a very vulnerable population and we could overtax our healthcare system and emergency responders very quickly, Bolen said.

On Thursday the Randolph County Commission unanimously denied the City of Elkins request to annex three properties by minor boundary adjustment.

During Thursdays commission meeting, officials said the request was denied due to legislative changes in West Virginia code 8-6-5(d), as was recommended by Randolph County Prosecuting Attorney Michael Parker.

Prior to voting, Randolph County Commissioner Mark Scott stated, There are some concerns that the city has about us taking an action on this plan, and weve sought the advice of our prosecutor. He came back to us and said subsequent to the request that was made on Feb. 6, the state legislature made a change to the law, which says that in order for a minor boundary adjustment to be done by a city, they have to get the approval of 100% of the stakeholders that are involved in that annexation.

With the three that were presented to us, that means that they would have to go to the property owners of all three of those properties, get their approval and then apply for us to approve the annexation, Scott said.

Davis & Elkins College pre-service teachers gained classroom experience and helped Elkins Middle School students learn more about digital citizenship in connection with social media.

Over a two-day period in February, 22 D&E students instructed courses for all sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders at Elkins Middle School. Digital citizenship focuses on teaching respect, responsibility, social etiquette and how the misuse of social media can lead to problems with the law, school and the workplace. The project coordinates with the curriculum in D&Es EDUC 120 Education Technology course taught by D&E instructor of education Danielle Riggins.

Vincent Kitch has been hired as the new director of Arts and Cultural Development, according to a release from the city of Morgantown.

Kitch was selected out of a pool of 112 candidates. With more than 20 years of experience in government-based arts administration, Kitch has served as the director of cultural services for the city of Fort Collins, Colorado, and as the cultural arts manager for the city of Carlsbad, California. Kitch holds a Master of Music from Illinois State University and has certification from the Harvard University Senior Executives in State and Local Government Executive Education Program.

I am excited to have Vincent join the citys team and to become a leader within the community for arts and cultural affairs, said Morgantown Assistant City Manager Emily Muzzarelli. His experience in municipal arts administration and management will be a great addition to the areas existing arts groups.

Kitch currently resides in Fort Collins, Colorado, and will be relocating to Morgantown in the coming weeks. His expected start date is April 6.

It was business as usual in the Berkeley County Council chambers Thursday morning as council members approved the airport ordinance and provided updates on the ever-changing coronavirus pandemic.

What was an ongoing matter beginning in the latter half of 2019, the council discussed and ultimately unanimously adopted an updated Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport Authority runway protection zone ordinance.

The ordinance protects both the airport and community to ensure proper space is allowed around the runway, as well as prohibits the height of structures built near the runway.

Heather Williams, planning director, had previously provided council members with packets of the original ordinance adopted in 2004 and updates to the ordinance that were discussed by the planning commission over the last few weeks.

Williams also provided maps and overlays showcasing the zone boundary surrounding the airport runway and added the materials would be available to the public on the countys website in the near future.

When he took the position of chief of police for the Martinsburg Police Department in 2015, Maury Richards said he wanted to tackle the citys drug problem and make downtown a safe place to be. A goal that he has accomplished, Richards is now resigning from the position.

In October 2015, Richards took the oath of office surrounded by family, friends and supporters after recently moving to his Martinsburg home.

The 24-year veteran of the Chicago police force was selected from 39 applicants from across the country, including two members of the Martinsburg police force. He replaced Kevin Miller as chief of police.

Beginning in 2006, Richards served as the lieutenant of police for Chicagos 4th District, which is South Chicago. As watch commander, he performed the function of captain, supervising 120 officers and directing all district operations and personnel.

Once in office, Richards tackled these issues head on. He also has been a proponent of prevention and treatment, as well as incarceration in some cases.

During his tenure at MPD, the department has had success with its Drug House Ordinance, Operation Spring Cleaning and the Martinsburg Initiative.

With thousands of bills sent out to addresses throughout the county, Public Service Stormwater District officials offered an update on the controversial stormwater management fee approved and implemented in the latter half of 2019.

Greg Rhoe, president of the Stormwater Management Board, offered councilmembers and the community an update on the continuing status of the recently implemented stormwater management fee Thursday, a fee that has seen its fair share of backlash since it was approved last year.

The implementation of the fee had a lot of moving parts because of the expanded customer base that we ended up billing those that the sewer or water district did not previously have information on, Rhoe said. We have billed about 38,000 clients; roughly 22,000 on water and sewer and roughly 15,700 non-water and non-sewer customers comes out to a gross billing of $1,540,000, but that doesnt show collectability. We anticipate receiving roughly $1.3 million back, which is right around where we need to be according to MS4 guidelines.

The Beckley Area Foundation has established the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund (CERF), which will provide resources to local nonprofit organizations working to provide aid to those impacted by the coronavirus outbreak.

Donations to CERF will support emergency needs identified by our nonprofit partners in human services, health, housing and education, and will make grants to nonprofits providing aid to impacted individuals and families in Raleigh County.

CERF is designed to complement the work of local public health, nonprofit and government entities and to expand local capacity to support individuals and families experiencing hardship because of the outbreak and related closures and disruptions.

Foundation leaders will be closely monitoring how the coronavirus impacts the community and will deploy financial resources to best meet evolving needs.

Individuals, corporations, donor advisors and private foundations are encouraged to join BAF in these efforts by making a gift to CERF. All gifts are tax-deductible and will be used to support local nonprofit organizations.

While restaurants and facilities like gyms in West Virginia and Ohio have been ordered to close, other establishments continue to assess the best way to do business amid the coronavirus pandemic.

For the Habitat for Humanity of the Mid-Ohio Valley ReStore in Vienna, that means not doing business at all right now.

ReStore Director Ben Bradley said they had been monitoring the situation and decided to close Wednesday based on the latest guidance from Habitat for Humanity International. Hes hoping it will only last for the 15-day period recently discussed by President Donald Trump but said its too early to set a date to reopen again.

Its just so difficult to plan from one day to the next when the information is changing so rapidly, Bradley said.

The decision was made after weighing factors that include the health and safety of employees and the community, as well as the economic health of those groups, Bradley said. ReStores 12 employees will be paid through the current pay period, which ends a week from today, he said. After that, the situation will be re-evaluated.

Donations will not be accepted during the closure, but Bradley said theyll need them once the ReStore is able to reopen.

Parkersburg News and Sentinel

The Wood County Board of Education held its first virtual meeting Thursday, receiving an update on the pandemic which made the remote meeting necessary.

Board members joined Wood County Schools Superintendent Will Hosaflook on a video call Thursday evening to discuss COVID-19, also known as coronavirus, which in recent weeks has shut down schools, businesses and social gatherings throughout the United States and worldwide.

West Virginia was the last state to have a confirmed case of coronavirus, which led to more strict regulations including shutting down public schools and limiting gatherings to no more than 10 people.

Thursdays meeting was broadcast through Wood County Schools new Innovate site at http://www.wcsinnovate.com and the MicrosoftTeams app.

We thought it was important to touch base with the board, said board President Rick Olcott. More than 45 people, including the five board members and Hosaflook, joined Thursdays online meeting.

Hosaflook updated the school board on actions taken since last weeks announcement by West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice to shut down schools statewide. Hosaflook said the districts priority has been to ensure students are fed and educated during the shutdown.

Parkersburg News and Sentinel

Airport Manager Glen Kelly says the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport has yet to see any negative impact from the COVID-19 situation.

The practice of sanitizing all primary contact surfaces started in January when the virus became more widespread around the world, Kelly said.

Uniforms also are washed on site so employees dont have to take them home.

Weve been very diligent on trying to stay ahead of the curve, he said.

The airport is still operating with its usual staff and under regular protocols.

Fuel sales are still up from previous years and have not been affected. Fuel sales and rentals are a majority of the revenue for the airport.

(We are) very happy the fuel sales are still there, Kelly said.

Contour Airlines is continuing to offer flights. Kelly said they are still seeing traffic from commercial flights.

The airline was running at the same capacity but Monday they started to see a market decrease on outbound enplanements.

Parkersburg News and Sentinel

Despite a likely pending spike in coronavirus claims and the collapse of the stock market, the West Virginia Public Employees Insurance Agency remains in good financial health, members of the PEIA Finance Board were advised Thursday.

PEIA financial officers are projecting a spike in costs for COVID-19 testing and medical care for PEIA insurees likely will be offset by a drop-off in elective procedures during the pandemic.

We will see spiked utilization of services with the pandemic, but we also will see a decline in elective services, Jason Haught, PEIAs chief financial officer, told the board.

Not only do we think members are going to stay away from health-care providers for elective procedures, some facilities are completely disallowing elective procedures.

Meanwhile, through January, PEIA was on track to finish the 2019-20 budget year with a $264.5 million balance, as medical and pharmaceutical claims have come in below estimates so far, Haught said.

Charleston Gazette-Mail

More here:

Across the State - WV News

CHARLESTON Gov. Jim Justice in a public address Saturday warned that the state could end up in the same situation as New York City if directives to prevent the spread of the coronavirus known as COVID-19 are not followed.

Justice said he would not shut down the entire state now, and asked instead for all residents to bear down and buckle up to follow directives to stay home when possible, wash hands thoroughly and often and keep hands away from the face.

An additional four cases of COVID-19 disease were confirmed in the stateSaturday, bringing the total to 12. Marshall County had its first two cases Saturday, and Kanawha County and Mercer County had one additional case each.

There are now two cases each in Jefferson, Marshall, Mercer, Kanawha and Tucker counties and one each in Jackson and Monongalia, according to the state Department of Health and Human Resources.

As of Saturday evening, 397 state residents had been tested for COVID-19, with 385 negatives and one test pending at the state lab. The 397 total includes tests from the states public health lab, commercial labs and hospitals, according to the DHHR.

Also Saturday, the West Virginia Supreme Court's administrative branch, which oversees the state's circuit court system, released a statement saying one of the positive cases in Kanawha County involved a court worker, who has been hospitalized.

In his public address, the governor sounded a note of urgency.

I hate to alarm you in any way, shape or form or fashion," Justice said, "but weve got to move and weve got to move right now to save additional lives. If you look at where New York is today, think about where New York was roughly 10 days ago.

Justice compared the number of coronavirus infections in New York City to the number in West Virginia and said, as a percentage of the total population, the state today is in about the same situation as New York City was 10 days ago.

There was a wave coming, a potential wave that could be absolutely so destructive its unbelievable. Youre seeing it in New York. Youre seeing it tonight. Youre seeing panic. Youre seeing a situation where there could very well be thousands die, the governor said. Think where we could end up 10 days from today.

Justice was joined by Dr. Clay Marsh, vice president and dean of WVU Health Sciences, who praised the aggressive preventive actions that West Virginia has taken.

New York City did not, and now theyre underwater. And we know with information from China, which weve learned from, that once were underwater, it takes about two weeks to recover in any way, Marsh said. We have a real opportunity, but that opportunity is time-limited.

Justice said West Virginians have the power to stop the spread of the disease.

This terrible monster has got to have the ability to jump from person to person, and if it doesnt it dies, and it dies very quickly. And as we stay apart and the numbers flatten out, then our health-care systems can take care of us and can take care of each and every one of us in a way that keeps us somewhat safe, Justice said. The numbers dont skyrocket.

According to Justice, about 60% of state residents are doing what they need to do to slow the spread of COVID-19, but 40% have failed to recognize the danger faced in a state with a comparatively large population at higher risk of severe complications from the virus, including the elderly and people with chronic health conditions.

Justice also took time to praise the individuals who are doing their part, including seniors who are staying home, grocery store workers who staying on the job,health-care workers who are risking their own health to take care of others, as well as the West Virginia National Guard, school systems and counties that are feeding 200,000 kids who are not in schools.

The governor renewed his promise that the federal and state governments will step up to make businesses and citizens as whole as they can be economically.

Staff Writer JoAnn Snoderly can be reached at 304-626-1445, by email at jsnoderly@theet.com or on Twitter at @JoAnnSnoderly.

Excerpt from:

'Bear down and buckle up': Governor urges West Virginians to take action against COVID-19 - WV News

We must look at all categories where we can offer plant-based and sustainably sourced choices for intentional consumers. There has never been a time where we need to be more collectively conscious of the products we consume, and acknowledge their impacts on our long-term health.

As a seasoned executive in the consumer packaged goods market for more than twenty years, Ive had the opportunity to watch first-hand the remarkable evolution of major consumer trends tied to healthier lifestyles.

Consumers have transformed the retail landscape at large, as almost every category in your favorite grocery store now has a beautiful organic section carved out for those with natural preferences.

Our Gen Z children, the future buyers of this country, are eager to uncover where and how the products they consume are sourced, asking for Meatless Mondays, and making conscious choices about what goes in and on their bodies.

More celebrities are jumping on the vegetarian or flexitarian bandwagon I challenge you to open Instagram and not see a post about plant-based products or the plastic waste produced by traditional alternatives.

This growing trend is great news for our health, for the environment, and for the emerging businesses that are launching innovative new products daily to improve our well-being.

The question I ask is this: What about the less buzzy, but arguably most significant market categories such as feminine care? I said it; stay with me. Even if you are a male reading this, you have a Mother, Sister, Aunt, Wife or Daughter ... and we all share the same planet.

My cousin and I founded TOP the organic project (TOP) because, when we went looking for organic and eco-friendly feminine hygiene products for our daughters, we realized there were few options.

For decades, the feminine care category has operated with a complete lack of transparency as companies are not required to list their ingredients nor test their impact on womens health.

There have also been significant (and largely ignored) environmental and social impact issues that have gone completely unaddressed by the masses.

Every year, more than 20 billion period products end up in landfills, in the United States alone. Mainly composed of plastic materials and by-products, period product waste has a measurably negative impact on the environment, derailing global sustainability efforts, as each plastic tampon and pad takes thousands of years to decompose.

As a mom-owned social impact company on a mission to make sustainable, organic period products accessible for all, we recently launched a plant-based applicator tampon, the PLANTICATOR a high-performing alternative to the traditional, plastic-based tampons that dominate 90 percent of the market today.

Image credit: TOP the organic project

Benefits include a reduction in the use of fossil fuel resources, faster decomposition and an overall decrease in toxins; as well as eliminating BPA a hormone disruptor with documented health risks for women and girls altogether.

With the bioplastics market predicted to skyrocket from $6B to $19B+ by 2026, TOP aims to transform the period landscape with options that are better for you and the planet, similar to the evolution we're seeing with plant-based food and drink.

We recently visited the flagship store of one of the country's largest retailers, near their corporate office. It was a beautiful store with every aisle curated to meet all of your mainstream grocery needs with plenty of natural and organic alternatives. The store had both a sports bar and a wine bar we have indeed come a long way since the grocers of our past.

We were in awe of this modern shopping experience until we reached the feminine care cove at the back of the store. It looked like an aisle from the late 1980s, at best. When we asked the buyer why it looked so dated versus the rest of the store, he simply shrugged his shoulders and said, There just hasnt been much innovation in that category.

Our primary mission is to give every woman a choice to be proud of in the feminine care space, through innovation and a long overdue makeover for the feminine care aisles at grocery stores nationwide. Its our responsibility as global citizens to look at all categories where we can offer plant-based and sustainably sourced choices for intentional consumers who are paving the way for a brighter future. There has never been a time where we need to be more collectively conscious of the products we consume, and acknowledge their impacts on our long-term health.

Published Mar 17, 2020 8am EDT / 5am PDT / 12pm GMT / 1pm CET

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The Continued Evolution of Plant-Based Products and the Ones We're Not Hearing About - Sustainable Brands

With the start of the new decade, marketers and technologists alike have both an opportunity and a challenge to help brands optimize their data in a new era of customer service.

Each year, leaders across industries reveal their predictions about how technology will influence the marketing landscape, making the beginning of this new decade the perfect opportunity to pause and reflect on the not-sao-distant past.

Winning CX will come from Brands who can balance relevance, consistency and convenience to drive engagement. The kind of engagement that drives optimal customer lifetime value and real business impact.

Historically, predictions have promised major breakthroughs in everything from emerging realities to artificial intelligence and smart mobile devices. However, I believe organizations will experience an unprecedented realignment of the fundamentals across industries this decade, particularly in marketing technology. In an era where shareholder value is no longer everything, and customer experience continues to be a leading driver of business results, this shift will be integral to success.

We see a glimpse into how businesses can prepare for this changing landscape in Fjords Trends 2020 report. In this years outlook, Fjord Accenture Interactives design arm includes three emerging trends that I see as most relevantfor businesses in 2020, as were in a critical position to help organizations and investors provide exceptional customer experiences.

Learn More:Heres How You Can Take Your Loyalty Program Global

Today, organizations are under tremendous pressure to redefine their successes outside of financial performance. In my experience, success no longer solely equates to growth; organizations must start reassessing corporate purpose and recalibrate how they see their role in the world to survive.

Outlined as the Many Faces of Growth, this trendreminds us that we have a responsibility to help organizations react to investors, customers and employers when navigating changing societal values, concerns about climate change and economic and political instability to name a few.

Todays leading brands are using data to not only make relationships with customers more relevant and useful, but more meaningful, too. Theyre creating experienceswith a purpose and learning where to draw the line between invasive and inventive.

This idea reminds me of a few key findings we discovered in Accenture Interactives 2019 Consumer Pulse Survey:See People, Not Patterns, in which we surveyed over 8,000 consumers globally. We found that 93% of consumers agree its important that every interaction they have with a brand is excellent, whenever or wherever they happen in the decision to purchase from a brand, while 87% of consumers think its important to purchase from brands that understand the real them.

The good news is that there is a big opportunity for brands to take a thoughtful approach not only in the use of data usage through personalization but in creating impactful experiences at the intersection of purpose and innovation. Whether its working with retailers to use materials and dies that are better for the environment or helping quick serve restaurants reduce food waste or partnering with the local government to create smart cities and increase speed of first responders in a crisis, creating experience with purpose build the trust and emotional connection customers crave and help improve peoples lives.

Consumption habits are rapidly evolving as people continue to redefine their identity in more ways than one. As a result, organizations need to take a proactive approach to understand the complex layers of their audiences, leveraging those insights to create more personalized experiences for all.

According to a recent Gartner CMO Spend Survey, marketing technology consumed nearly a third of marketing budgets, making this segment the largest area of investment for marketing resources and programs. Based on the survey, CMOs spent an average of 25 percent of their marketing technology budget on three channels: search (11.2 percent), email (5.9 percent), and website (7.6 percent). Marketing and customer analytics platforms accounted for 8.9 percent, indicating the need for measurement tools and processes to continue supporting these programs.

With this in mind, Ive noticed something contradictory: people still want to consume products, but dont want those products to define who they are their expectations are truly fluid.

Consumers are on a quest to show who they are without pointing to their possessions or what they do for a living. Consequently, organizations need to gain a deeper understanding of the people they serve and in some case redefine that understanding to accomplish a greater sense of relevance, across touchpoints.

Ive also seen a growing number of people becoming more conscious consumers, usually to support a cause whether the planet or society resulting in added pressure for businesses to follow suit. For example, Brazilian start-up Beleaf, formerly known as Vegan J, is one of several plant-based food companies around the world to change its name to broaden its appeal to meat-eaters. In the U.S., around 95% of people buying from meat alternative food business, Impossible Foods, are ironically meat-eaters. Vegan is now the fastest-growing food takeaway in the UK, and recent YouGov research suggests a conscious flexitarian diet could soon become the countrys norm.

Similarly, Millennials and Gen Z two of the biggest buying demographics are fondest of personalization. Yet in contrast to their predecessors, Gen Z has a completely different set of considerations for making buying decisions. As the Gen Z population increases, customized advertising is going to become increasingly inevitable, given the need for smarter audience management strategies and increased segmenting and targeting. To achieve this, brands should not only focus on consumers experiences at every interaction during the customer journey, from websites and mobile apps to brick-and-mortar stores but also the consumers intent and context. For example, I have very different needs when I travel for business versus travel with my family on vacation. Context matters.

Learn More:Privacy vs. Personalization: A Divide Amongst Generations

Were leaving a physical cookie trail as we move around our cities with widespread facial and body language recognition capabilities on the rise. As machines get more sophisticated at reading our physical features, our bodies are increasingly becoming our signature as the line between privacy and convenience becomes blurred. I believe it is our obligation to use data responsibly, while learning from it to aid future costumer interactions.

Forrester defines omnichannel marketing as the practice of digitally sequencing advertising across channels, which is connected, relevant, and consistent with the customers stage in their life cycle. As such, living services sophisticated, contextually-aware and digital will continue to become the norm across the marketing technology ecosystem.

In fact, across industries, this is already the norm. UK health start-up Babylon for example, combines Artificial Intelligence (AI) with peoples medical expertise to deliver improved access to healthcare. AI initially helps to identify a patients condition, then assesses their reaction to help gauge whether they fully understand the advice they receive.

Yet responsible data usage, also continues to blur the lines. Several Amazon smart products for example, including Echo Frames (smart glasses) and Echo Loop (a portable smart ring that can make phone calls), have sparked privacy debates and exemplify how living services are becoming intertwined into society.

Despite the cookie trail, transparency continues to reign. Our recent survey also found that around 73% of consumers are willing to share more personal information if brands are transparent about how it is used, up from 66% in 2018. The changing landscape represents an opportunity for brands that provide consumers with value for their data, while simultaneously ensuring the brand wont lose or abuse their data and recognize consumers in a way that puts them at ease.

Learn More:Watch out CX Industry -- Omnichannel Personalization, Data and AI Are here

Brands are a set of promises and the way those promises are kept are in the experiences they deliver. Systemic complexities ranging from economics and politics to technology and more rapidly changing society raise new challenges but its clear organizations have a unique opportunity to innovate with purpose and create experiences backed by new business models, services and products as they redefine value in the decade ahead.

When organizations adapt to an experience-led approach, marketers and technologists are not only helping brands be present across touchpoints such as smartphones, computers, digital assistants and TVs; theyre able to penetrate into a liquid experience ecosystem in a unified fashion that conveys a single meaningful brand narrative and ultimately deliver experiences that matter.

While the decade ahead will unearth new breakthroughs that will challenge consumer trust, growth models and expand the boundaries of personalization, something we know for sure is that organizations who embrace the long-term view by focusing on their societal impact at large while striving to empathize and help improve the lives of their customers will emerge as winners.

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Understanding the Evolution of Martech in 2020 - MarTech Advisor

This piece was published before the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

How good does never getting dumped sound? Don't be fooled. . . Lauren Bonner has never been dumped, and it's turned her into a monster. Some say 'assuming people who reject you must just be afraid of falling in love with you' is unhealthy, but actually, it's self-care.

You might have seen Lauren on SBS's 'The Feed', or ABC's 'Tonightly'. Now, she's making her Melbourne International Comedy Festival debut as well as heading to Gold Coast Laughs Festival, tracking her evolution from self-conscious teen to ice-cold heartbreaker. Don't you mess around with her.

What can we expect from you in this show? Really just a whole bunch of jokes about a whole bunch of stuff. I talk a bit about dating and relationships, but also about the bus, ghosts, MSN Messenger, and MMA fighter Conor McGregor. Funny, relatable, raw, real.

What is your favourite thing about comedy? Because its live, its always unpredictable. Some stuff can make people laugh nine times out of ten, and then you can try it another night and no-one laughs. You just dont know whats going to happen. Actually that might be my least favourite thing about comedy.

What makes a heartbreaker? Pat Benatar would define it as the the invincible winner, and I would agree.

Why do you think never having been dumped has turned you into a monster? Its given me too much power.

If you could give your 'self-conscious teen' self any advice, what would it be? Youre hotter than you think you are. Do yoga every day, start now your body will begin to break down soon. Dont let that guy take you on a first date to Westfield.

What are you looking forward to about presenting 'Heartbreaker'? Id love to find an audience that really digs it. Ive had a pretty even mix of gals and guys who have liked what I do, so basically if youre cool and open-minded about weird, dumb, gross sh.t, please come along.

How are you going to make sure it goes down as a truly memorable moment? My hauntingly beautiful poster photo will be burned into public memory forever.

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Lauren Bonner Is An Ice-Cold Heartbreaker - scenestr

Plagues of global proportions might seem biblical, but coronavirus is creating new challenges for faith leaders. Last week in Australia, many churches, mosques and synagogues decided proactively to cancel their normal worship services. These were not easy decisions for groups for whom being a gathered community is central to their identity and practice.

On the weekend, the federal government announced new, stringent measures as part of a stage 1 lockdown, which means faith communities can no longer gather to worship. In Victoria, funerals and weddings are also banned.

Australias largest Uniting Church, Newlife, was one of the first in Australia to move services online following the prime ministers call to cancel gatherings over 500. Their lead minister, Stu Cameron, addressed the congregation online and called this the most loving thing to do. As a church used to multimedia worship, they are well equipped to move online.

Read more: View from The Hill: Entertainment venues closed in draconian measures to fight the virus

Traditional churches such as St Johns Anglican Church in Toorak face different challenges. They have cancelled Sunday services but are keeping the historic church and garden open as long as possible for personal prayer and reflection. Their priest, Peter French, is more concerned about how they will continue to care for the dead and grieving as St Johns often sees over 1,000 people during the week for funeral services.

Weddings can be postponed, but funerals are another matter. French said:

Were working closely with our local funeral directors and are deeply conscious of the need for love and compassion for the grieving even if we cant physically gather together in the traditional way. Funeral services for the foreseeable will look very different.

Italy has banned funerals of any kind. Bodies are being buried or cremated with only a priest or celebrant present. This leaves grieving loved ones in limbo, waiting until they can hold a proper funeral service.

The PMs announcement on Sunday evening now makes clear that Australian church and religious organisations are also prohibited from holding funeral services. Sitting shiva in the traditional way or gathering in other rituals to mourn the dead will not be possible for the foreseeable future.

Not all faith communities are responding in the same way. The coronavirus pandemic has exposed a long-held tension between science and faith for conservative faith communities. Conservative Christian churches such as Margaret Courts Life Church have said the blood of Jesus will protect their communities.

Such claims are rooted in a prosperity theology that naively claims God will protect and bless the faithful (usually financially), coupled with a simultaneous distrust of science. This distrust is because scientific theories, such as evolution, are mutually exclusive to a literal reading of the creation stories in the Bible, particularly Genesis, and are therefore seen as a threat or in conflict with faith.

At the other end of the ecclesial spectrum, the Greek Orthodox Church has thus far continued to serve communion, claiming that one cannot contract an illness from Holy Communion, because bread and wine are the body and blood of Christ. Scientists might disagree.

Worst of all are those seeking to benefit from the fear that such a pandemic evokes. Televangelist and Trump adviser Paula White at first dismissed the seriousness of coronavirus and is now opportunistically asking for cash donations for a hospital for the soul sick. Citing Psalm 91, a psalm that speaks of Gods protection in a time of difficulty, she asks people for donations of $91 as seed funding for Gods blessing. Others are promising healing through the television. Preying on peoples fears in this way is contrary to Christian tradition and theology.

Christians were famous in antiquity for staying to care for the sick and dying during significant plagues. After all, to risk ones life for the sake of another is a very Jesus-like thing to do.

Christians are, of course, not alone in these brave acts of service. This kind of self-sacrificial service is central to many of the worlds religions.

But the dynamics of the current pandemic are different. Staying close to others might threaten their life more than ones own. It poses a new kind of problem: how do you love your neighbour when you arent supposed to be near them?

The challenge for all communities is how to foster community and support one another while keeping physical distance. Many faith communities are live-streaming services or sharing pre-recorded sermons. Others are encouraging small groups to meet in homes or meeting in real time via software such as Zoom.

Read more: Grattan on Friday: We are now a nation in self-isolation

Pastoral care is more complicated. Some faith communities have set up a pastoral care roster of weekly phone calls to check on both the physical and spiritual needs of members. Others are delivering care packages and meals to the doorsteps of elderly members or have a buddy system, asking members to commit to checking in with one another every couple of days or youth to help older folk with technology.

At the heart of any religion is community: people gathering together to worship, pray, caring for one another, and eating together. There is therefore something antithetical about asking members of faith communities to show their love by keeping away from one another. It is a difficult and counter-cultural thing for many to do. Yet, it is what most faith leaders in Australia are asking of their communities as they trust the advice of scientists and experts that this is the best way to show care for the most vulnerable in our community.

In this time of great anxiety, leaders of all faiths have both an opportunity and responsibility to step up with words of comfort and compassion, drawing on the depths of their sacred traditions and texts.

The lasting effect of coronavirus on faith communities remains to be seen. Will people flock back to their synagogues when finally allowed, joyful at being able to be together again? Or will habits be broken and connections lost as people discover other ways to pray and nourish their spiritual lives outside of Sunday church?

Perhaps the creativity these new circumstances demand will lead to a wider range of faith expressions and fundamentally change the nature of faith communities in the 21st century.

Whatever the future looks like, creative and new forms of care and worship are emerging. It is hard to imagine these wont leave a lasting legacy on faith communities.

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Pray, but stay away: holding on to faith in the time of coronavirus - The Conversation AU

Youve been hearing this advice everywhere for months now, and Im about to repeat the same thing: wash your hands often, especially when you return back home and be sure to use sanitizer if available while youre out and about. Also, dont EVER touch your face until youve washed your hands. It can be annoying when you have to make a conscious effort not to put your hands anywhere near your face, but its all for your own good.

The reason weve heard these things since the novel coronavirus was discovered in China is pretty simple. The SARS-CoV-2 virus can survive outside of the body. Its spread via tiny droplets when someone coughs or sneezes, droplets that then land on surfaces around the infected person. Touching those surfaces is enough to get it on your hands. And from there, it might be just a matter of time until it reaches your mouth or eyes.

Researchers have looked at the COVID-19 viruss ability to survive on different surfaces and in the air, and the conclusions arent great. The virus can live from hours to days outside of the body, and thats why washing your hands and disinfecting surfaces is crucial for beating this illness. Also, because it can live up to three hours in the air, you should avoid being in close proximity to people until the spread of this deadly virus is under control.

Published in The New England Journal of Medicine earlier this week, the new study is penned by researchers from various institutions, including National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (Hamilton, MT), Princeton University (Princeton, NJ), University of California (Los Angeles, CA), and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Atlanta, GA).

The researchers compared the COVID-19 virus (SARS-CoV-2) with its predecessor, the SARS-CoV-1, which is the most closely related human coronavirus, in five environmental conditions, including aerosols (air), plastic, stainless steel, copper, and cardboard.

Heres how long the novel coronavirus can survive outside of the body in each situation, according to their tests:

The researchers said that even though the virus can live up to three days on plastic and stainless steel, it has a longer half-life and is more stable on plastic.

The findings for both coronavirus types were similar, although its the SARS-CoV-2 results that matter most since thats the virus were all trying to get rid off right now:

We found that the stability of SARS-CoV-2 was similar to that of SARS-CoV-1 under the experimental circumstances tested. This indicates that differences in the epidemiologic characteristics of these viruses probably arise from other factors, including high viral loads in the upper respiratory tract and the potential for persons infected with SARS-CoV-2 to shed and transmit the virus while asymptomatic.Our results indicate that aerosol and fomite transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is plausible, since the virus can remain viable and infectious in aerosols for hours and on surfaces up to days (depending on the inoculum shed). These findings echo those with SARS-CoV-1, in which these forms of transmission were associated with nosocomial spread and super-spreading events,and they provide information for pandemic mitigation efforts.

In other words, keep washing your hands and be conscious of not touching your face. Keep disinfecting commonly used surfaces and keep practicing social distancing. You will have to buy essentials from time to time, and that means going out or ordering online. In both cases, you should continue to sanitize your hands, avoid contact with others, and sanitize whatever you buy as soon as it enters your home. The advantage here is that stores and restaurants will be or should be equally paranoid about cleanliness, so the risk of infection should be significantly diminished.

Image Source: NACHO GALLEGO/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Chris Smith started writing about gadgets as a hobby, and before he knew it he was sharing his views on tech stuff with readers around the world. Whenever he's not writing about gadgets he miserably fails to stay away from them, although he desperately tries. But that's not necessarily a bad thing.

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New study finally reveals how long coronavirus survives on surfaces and in the air - BGR