Over the next few years the tech industry has a roadmap to overcome the challenges facing quantum computing. This will pave the way to growth in mainstream quantum computing to solve hard problems.

There are numerous opportunities, from finding a cure for cancer to the development of new, more sustainable materials and tackling climate change. But a recent short film on quantum ethics has highlighted the risks, which may be as profound as the Manhattan Project that led to two atomic bombs being dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.

One interviewee featured in the film, Ilana Wisby, CEO, Oxford Quantum Circuits said: We wont fully understand the impact of what we have until we have got the systems, but it will be revolutionising and will be lucrative for some.

The experts discussed the need for a debate across society to assess and appreciate the risk quantum computing will pose. Ilyas Khan, CEO Cambridge Quantum Computing said: We may be able to shift the boundaries of what can and cannot be done with machines.

Faye Wattleton, co-found EeroQ Quantum urged the innovators and policy makers to take a step back to consider the implications and its impact on humanity. If we can do in a few minutes what it would take 10,000 years to do with current technology then that requires careful consideration. From a societal perspective, what does this kind of power mean?

Just because a quantum computer makes it possible to solve an insoluble problem, does not mean it should be solved.

In the past, there was oversight and governance of technological breakthroughs like the printing press, which paved the way to mass media and the railways, which led to mass transit. But IT has become arrogant. Its proponents say that it moves far too quickly to be restrained by a regulatory framework. As an expert at a recent House of Lords Select Committee meeting warned, policy-makers are not very good at looking ahead at the long term impact of a new technological development. In the 1990s, who would have considered that the growth of the internet, social media and mobile phones would be a stimulant for fake news and a catalyst for rogue states to influence elections in other countries.

Khan describes the lack of controls on the internet like being asleep at the wheel. What are the implications of a quantum computing society? Perhaps, as Khan, says, society need to anticipate these issues, instead of being asleep at the wheel again.

This e-guide explores these matters, beginning with a comprehensive article that ranges over supply chain management, from a macro level through how trading platforms have been flexed to switch suppliers rapidly down to how robots have been quickly deployed to solve problems of scale.

Go here to see the original:

The risk of giving in to quantum progress - ComputerWeekly.com

In our everyday classical computers, 0s and 1s are associated with switches and electronic circuits turning on and off as part of the computer using a binary number system to calculate possibilities and perform operations. For example, when a computer mouse moves, a sensor tells the computer that an electrical signal has been converted into a binary value or number. Further, this number represents a location that is then represented on the computer screen all of which is embodied by the byte that is the building block of current computers. The sensor message to the computer is also saved to memory. Some calculations have too many possibilities for even a traditional computer to calculate like simulating the weather or calculating scrambled combinations of prime numbers. Quantum is the state of things being unknown at the subatomic level until they can be observed and moves from the byte to the qubit. In a quantum computer, it is said that the values assigned to 0 and 1 can occur at the same time. The reason this impossibility is possible is because of quantums subatomic level where protons and electrons are acting in a wild way beyond the rules of nature as we tend to think of them. Picture The Avengers superhero Antman shrinking into the quantum zone where time did not even move in a linear fashion. In computer terms, once the values of 0 and 1 can happen at the same time, it allows the quantum computer to consider trillions of possibilities or more in the same instant, dwarfing the number of calculations that our traditional computers, stuck in binary counting, can do. This process is called superposition. Superposition ends once a specialized particle, or qubit, slows/is observable, thereby emerging from its quantum state. We stick the qubit in an artificial space vacuum so that it does not get observed or interfered with and remains dynamic. Pictures of quantum computers often show tubes the size of a household refrigerator. But most of the tubing is not the central computer processor as much as the process used to maintain the qubits at the absolute zero quantum state. Since around 1977, RSA has been among the most widely used systems for secure data transmission underlying the Internet, serving as the backbone of the NYSE, most large institutions and most individual online users. What is stopping an average person from hacking anyones elses website is that RSA is easy to build, and being based on two pseudo-random prime numbers, hard to burst for traditional computers limited binary system calculation capacity.

cnxps.cmd.push(function () { cnxps({ playerId: '36af7c51-0caf-4741-9824-2c941fc6c17b' }).render('4c4d856e0e6f4e3d808bbc1715e132f6'); });

See more here:

Quantum Computing 101 -What it is, how is it different and why it matters - The Jerusalem Post

As Oslo and neighboring municipalities impose social lockdown with red level alert after an outbreak of the British variant of the coronavirus, also military activities in the north of the country is affected.

The Barents Observer could earlier in January report about a spike in COVID-19 cases among US Marines arriving for winter training to Setermoen camp in Troms. The American soldiers were, together with other allies and Norwegians, training cold climate snowy warfare. It was all supposed to culminate in the Joint Viking 2021 exercise in the end of February with about 10,000 soldiers.

Norway is facing a very demanding situation. Infection control measures [in the outbreak areas] are the most intrusive since the start of the corona pandemic, said Minister of Defense, Frank Bakke-Jensen. We must avoid the spread of the mutated virus, and after a comprehensive assessment of the situation, we have decided to cancel the allied activities in Troms, the minister said.

No new forces from other countries will travel to northern Norway. Forces that are already in place will make a controlled withdrawal, the defense ministry informs.

The means about 2,900 soldiers will have to pack up and go home. Of those are more than 1,000 from the United States, just under 1,000 from Great Britain, some 600 from the Netherlands and about 200 from Germany.

In total, 3,400 allied soldiers were supposed to come to Joint Viking before start on February 28.

About 45 of the U.S. and British soldiers tested positive for COVID-19 after arrival a month ago and where isolated at the camp in Setermoen. The virus did not spread to others.

Northern Norway have relatively few cases, but the government fears the mutated virus causing lockdown near Oslo could spread to other parts of the country. The same fear has triggered Norways Nordic neighbors, Sweden and Finland, to close their borders to Norway.

Last winter, the even larger exercise Cold Response was cancelled after 10 days, as the first wave of COVID-19 infections hit Norway. Then, the 15,000 soldiers from Norway and nine allied countries had to put down their weapons and pack up.

Due to the outbreak of the mutated virus, the Armed Forces haveintroduced restrictive measures on personell coming from red zones in South-Eastern Norway. This entails a halt in the drafting of new recruits from these municipalities for the time being, and commuter-travel to and from these zones is suspended for now. All scheduled leaves for Army personell are halted until further notice. To maintain national readiness, there will however, within current strict Covid-19 preventative measures, still be conducted national training and excercise-activity in the Troms region.

Continue reading here:

Norway cancels allied exercise over COVID-19 safety concerns - The Independent Barents Observer

On Tuesday January 26, Rwanda recorded 574 new cases of Covid-19, by far the highest number the country has ever registered in a single day.

The infections were detected from over 10,400 tests carried out in different parts of the country, with special focus on Kigali where the Ministry of Health is currently undertaking a random screening campaign at grassroot levels.

The number of tests carried out in a single day was yet another record.

The tests were part of an excercise that kicked off on January 23, and it targets to test 125 people in each of the 161 cells that constitute Kigali.

A staggering portion of Tuesday's new cases was detected in Kigali as the city continues to take the lead in infections, despite being on lockdown for a week now.

Kigali alone registered 440 on Tuesday. It was followed by Gicumbi with 16, Gakenke with 11, Ngoma with 10, Kirehe with 10, Gatsibo with 10, and Muhanga with 9.

Gisagara had 8, Kamonyi had 8, Rwamagana had 8 too, Kayonza had 7, Karongi had 6, Nyanza had 5, Huye had 5, and Rusizi had 5 too.

The rest of the cases were registered in Ruhango district which had 4, Nyagatare also with 4, Musanze with 3, Nyamagabe with 2, Rubavu with 2, and Rulindo with 1.

The total number of confirmed cases in the country is now 13,885. Of these, 8,861 have recovered, while 4,843 are the active cases.

The total number of Covid-19 related deaths in trecoe country is 181. On Tuesday, 2 more people were reported to have died in relation to the virus.

hkuteesa@newtimesrwanda.com

Originally posted here:

Rwanda registers yet another record number of new Covid cases in a day - The New Times

For more information and to view other events happening this week, check the Vail Dailys events calendar in the print paper and online at http://www.vaildaily.com/entertainment/calendar/.

Queer Climbing Night, taking place the last Sunday of each month from 5 to 7 p.m., invites LGBTQ+ idenitfying and curious individuals to chalk up their hands and step into climbing shoes. All abilities are welcome. REservations are required and participants should be prepared to adhere to COVID-19 safety protocols at the gym. This months event is Sunday, Jan. 31.

More information: eagleclimbing.com

Longtime local yoga instructor Karen Anderson is offering a 12-session course, with recorded and live practices, in the basics of Buddhism. The course is donation-based with suggested $120, but Anderson urges, please dont let finances stop you from participating. The workshop runs from Feb. 1 to March 10.

More information: yogavail.com or karene@vail.net.

Whether youre taking the class in-person or virtually, an instructor at Alpine Arts Center will guide you through the process of creating your own painting. The $49 class price includes all the materials and instructions. Virtual participants can pay $25 for the class, not including materials, if they choose, though take-home kits are available. For in-person participants, $6 wine, beer and champagne is available for purchase. Be sure to reserve a spot ahead of time. The event is Wednesday, Feb. 3 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

More information: alpineartscenter.org

Walking Mountains half-day snowshoes take hikers into the wilderness surrounding the Vail Valley. This weeks event, on Thursday, Feb. 4 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., voyages to Tennessee Pass for an easy trek to learn about tracks and signs left by wildlife in the backcountry. Advance registration is required.

More information: walkingmountains.org

Original post:
Happening this week: Queer Climbing Night, Basics of Buddhism and more - Vail Daily News

Text Size: A- A+

The presence of Hindu gods in Central Asia is the evidence of cross-fertilization of local and Indian cultures during the pre-Islamic period. It also points to the migration of Indians to Central Asian cities, not only the Zerafshan Valley at Penjikent but also the valley of the Syr Darya (then known as Jaxartes) at Ferghana and the Amu Darya (then known as Oxus) valley at Arytam.

Any visitor to the Rudaki Museum at Penjikent in Tajikistan and the National Museum at Dushanbe can immediately identify the Hindu gods and goddesses on display. There are images of a goddess riding a lion at the Museum of Antiquities, Dushanbe, as well as others such as Siva and ParvatiSiva with a third eye and Siva with three heads, amongst others. At the Rudaki Museum, Siva is seen sitting in a vast arena that resembles wilderness with his trisul or trident next to him.

Among the images of local divinities found in Temple II, one was identified as that of Uma Maheshwar (Siva and Parvati) sitting on the Nandi bull. Incidentally, the Pharro-Ardoxsa image at Ayrtam in the Oxus valley is also believed to be closer to the portrayal of Siva and Parvati.

Renowned Indian scholar and archaeologist S.P. Gupta has noted the presence of Hindu deities, such as Brahma, Indra, Siva, Narayana and Vaisravana in Central Asia, who had their own local counterparts.

It is important to note that nearly 25 marble sculptures and other artefacts of Hindu art dated between the fifth and eighth century ad have been discovered in Afghanistan.

Also read: India was a land of dharma but Europeans reduced it to Hinduism, Islam. And we accepted it

When the Islamic armies attacked Afghanistan in seventh century ad, Buddhism was flourishing in the province of Ghazni. One of the monastic centres located on a hill at Tepe Sardar had richly decorated stupas, chapels and monk cells which were excavated by modern archaeologists in the early twentieth century.

The Tepe Sardar Buddhist sanctuary occupying a hill of the Dasht-i-Manara plain was excavated by the Italian Archaeological Mission led by Giovanni Verardi between 1960 and 2003. An inscribed votive pot found at the site attested to the name of the sanctuary as the Kanika Maharaja Vihara, meaning the Temple of the Great King Kanishka. It also said that it was built during the Kusana period in the second century ad. Following the attack by the Islamic armies, it was abandoned in the late eighthninth century ad.

The 22-metre square towering central stupa was the focus of the complex and could be the largest yet found in Afghanistan. The chapels surrounding the stupa contain evidence of the colossal statuary art in the form of murals and painted clay images of the Buddha and bodhisattvas. Their fragments have been recovered during excavations. Massive gilded images of the Buddha have also been found at the entrance of the sanctuary. A gigantic Reclining Buddha measuring over 15 metres was found in Chapel 63 of the Tepe Sardar monastic complex. Unfortunately, as per the notice put up by the National Museum, it has been completely destroyed in recent times.

Yet another notice by the National Museum of Afghanistan at Kabul states that although Buddhism had spread in the Ghazni area since the time of Asoka in the third century bc, this particular complex whose main stupa was the largest in Afghanistan was built in third century ad during the Kusana period, and thrived for nearly six centuries until the arrival of the Arabs.

A large head of the Buddha dated fifthseventh century ad from Tepe Sardar is an example of the beautiful statuary art from Ghazni, which can be seen at the museum in Kabul. The Buddha head must have adorned a life-size image of the Buddha in dhyan mudra. Made of clay, the Buddhas eyes are closed in meditation. The thin, long, curved brows and a high nose appear to be finely chiselled. Small volutes adorn the head and the hairline is sharply drawn.

Another image of grey-blue schist dated from the fifthseventh century ad is headless, and the throne or the pedestal depicts monks and disciples holding out a large tray of lotus flowers at the Buddhas feet.

Also read: We the people of Pakistan, irrespective of religion, are the true Indians

Interestingly, the complex also hosted a Hindu Shaivite shrine where an image of Durga Mahisasur Mardini was found during excavations. The size of the original image can be guessed from the colossal head of the goddess preserved in a glass case at the national museum. The image is evidence that female divinities were worshipped in Afghanistan.

In Chapel 23 at Tepe Sardar, excavators also found the decapitated body of Mahisasur, the Buffalo Demon, with his severed head lying beside it. This was once part of a composite sculpture depicting the victory of the many-armed Durga over Mahisasur, the demon and enemy of the gods. According to explorer-historian Nancy H. Dupree, Durga defeating Mahisasur was a popular cult theme under the Hindu Shahisthe Hindu dynasty ruling over Kabul Valley and Gandhara after having taken over from the Turki Shahis.

It is possible that the Hindu Shahis installed Durgas image in the Buddhist monastery. It is a good example of the absorption of Hindu deities in the Buddhist pantheon, and also points to the fact that Buddhist shrines were converted into Hindu shrines. This has been discussed by Indologist and art historian P. Banerjee in New Light on Central Asian Art and Iconography. In his interesting study, Banerjee explains that though subordinate in position, these Hindu deities made their original importance felt now and then even in the Buddhist framework.

Banerjee presents several examples of the popularity of Shaivism in Central Asia and about Buddhist scholars such as Asanga and Aryadeva who tried to assimilate Hinduism and Buddhism. It is generally believed that Asanga, the well-known Buddhist philosopher from c.ad 400, created an amalgam of Shaivism and Buddhism, as Aryadeva did in bringing Vaishnavism and Buddhism together. Banerjee, says that Asanga tried to reconcile two opposing myths by placing a number of Saiva gods, both male and female in the inferior heavens of the prevalent Buddhism as worshippers and supporters of Buddha and Avalokitesvara.

According to Banerjee, Asanga by reconciling Shaivism and Buddhism made it possible for:

[T]he half-converted and rude tribes to remain Buddhists while they brought offerings to their more congenial shrines and while their practical religion had no relation at all to the truth of the noble Eightfold path.

Bannerjee also suggests that the popularity of Shaivism continued in Afghanistan and other parts of Central Asia during the late Gupta and early medieval periods. In Afghanistan, a collection of Shaiva antiquities, attributable to the seventheighth century ad, has come to light from the regions of Togao and Gardez. These include a head of Shiva from Gardez and a smaller head of Durga overcoming Mahisasur. This is an evidence of the spread of Hindu worship during the seventh and eighth centuries when large parts of Afghanistan were under the rule of the Hindu Shahi kings. This list includes the inscribed Mahavinayaka or Ganesa with Urdhvamedhra or erect phallus, clad in a tiger skin from Kotal-i-Khair Khaneh, about 17 km from Kabul and dated to the seventh century ad. Banerjee mentions the inscribed Uma-Mahesvara image, also dated to the seventh century from Tapa Skandar.

Excerpted with the permission of Rupa Publications fromBuddha in Gandhara by Sunita Dwivedi.Hardback; 336pp with colour inserts; Rs 795

Subscribe to our channels on YouTube & Telegram

Why news media is in crisis & How you can fix it

India needs free, fair, non-hyphenated and questioning journalism even more as it faces multiple crises.

But the news media is in a crisis of its own. There have been brutal layoffs and pay-cuts. The best of journalism is shrinking, yielding to crude prime-time spectacle.

ThePrint has the finest young reporters, columnists and editors working for it. Sustaining journalism of this quality needs smart and thinking people like you to pay for it. Whether you live in India or overseas, you can do it here.

Support Our Journalism

More here:
How Durga images and sculptures showed up in Ghazni, Afghanistan - ThePrint

Written by Mehr Gill , Edited by Explained Desk | New Delhi | Updated: January 30, 2021 10:34:30 am

On Monday, Thailands Parliament voted to make abortion during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy legal. Before this, abortion was illegal in the country, regardless of the duration of the pregnancy and was allowed only in limited circumstances governed by the countrys medical council.

This week, another country made an announcement dealing with abortion laws. On Wednesday, the right-wing Polish government said it will publish a court ruling that proposed a near-total ban on abortion in its journal. This ruling banned termination of pregnancies including of foetuses with defects. The governments sudden announcement has sparked countrywide protests in the country, where abortion laws were already very strict.

In India, the Union Cabinet cleared changes to the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 early last year. These changes raised the legally permissible limit for an abortion to 24 weeks from the previously legal 20 weeks. The change also accepted the failure of contraception as a valid reason for abortion, not just in married but in unmarried women as well.

Opposition to abortion in Thailand

The opposition to abortion comes mainly from Thailands majority of conservative Theravada Buddhists who believe that abortion goes against the teachings of Buddhism.

This week, a Buddhist monk Phra Shine Waradhammo who is known for his support for LGBT+ rights sparked outrage among some conservatives after he supported decriminalisation of abortion, according to a Reuters report.

Even so, illegal abortions are not uncommon in Thailand before this. For instance, in 2010 dozens of white plastic bags were found on the grounds of a Buddhist temple. Each of these bags contained the remains of a foetus. At the time, Thai authorities found over 2000 remains in the temples mortuary, where the remains had been hidden for over a year. The countrys prime minister at the time, Abhisit Vejjajiva was opposed to legalising abortions and maintained that more should be done to stop illegal abortions.

In the book titled, Abortion, Sin and the State in Thailand, author Andrea Wittaker says that over 300,000 illegal abortions are performed in the country each year.

In the same year, the arrest of a 17-year-old girl after she attempted to perform an abortion on herself with drugs obtained over the internet reignited the debate on abortion in the country.

So, what changes for women in Thailand now?

In February last year, Thailands constitutional court called the provision dealing with abortion, which is under the countrys criminal code, unconstitutional. As per this provision, women who got an abortion could be imprisoned for up to three years and those who performed them could be imprisoned for up to five years. Following this, the court gave the Thai government 360 days to change the laws dealing with abortion.

As per the new amendments, women can get an abortion if the age of the foetus is up to 12 weeks. But if a woman gets an abortion after 12 weeks, she can face being imprisoned for up to 6 months and will be liable to pay a fine of 10,000 baht or face both.

Significantly, abortions can be carried out after the completion of the first trimester, but only if they are in line with the criteria established by the Medical Council of Thailand (MCT). As per these criteria, a pregnancy can be terminated beyond the permitted period of time if it poses a threat to the mothers physical or emotional health, if the foetus is known to have abnormalities or if the pregnancy is the result of a sexual assault.

How are these amendments being interpreted in Thailand?

While the amendments signal some progress, pro-choice activists in Thailand are still not convinced and continue to demand the complete decriminalisation of abortion. Human Rights Watch has also called for complete decriminalisation of abortion so that women can fully exercise their reproductive rights.

One of the faces of the pro-choice movement in Thailand is the gender equality and LGBT rights activist Chumaporn Waddao Taengkliang, who is the co-founder of a group called Women for Freedom and Democracy.

She also joined the pro-democracy or anti-government protests last year that demanded that the monarchy be reformed and Prime Minister, Prayuth Chan-ocha resign. The protests were some of the biggest seen in recent times and while they were broadly against the monarchy, other groups joined them with demands including expanding LGBT and womens rights, reforms in education and the military, and improvements in the economy.

Taengkliang told The New York Times last year that The male supremacy society has been growing since the coup. Taengkliang was referring to the way Chan-ocha came to power in 2014, which was through a coup. He is endorsed by the king and is alleged to have meddled with electoral laws during the 2019 elections, which has enabled him to remain in power. Thailand is a Buddhist-majority country of about 70 million and converted from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy in 1932. Following a coup in 1947, Thailand has been ruled by the military for the most part.

During the pro-democracy protests last year, many young women, many of whom were students dominated the protests. These women called for gender equality and endorsed issues specific to women, including abortion, taxes on menstrual products and school rules that force girls to conform to an outdated version of feminity a report in The New York Times said.

See the original post:
Explained: What are the amendments in Thailands abortion law? - The Indian Express

The Daily Pennsylvanian is a student-run nonprofit.

Please support us by disabling your ad blocker on our site.

The FGLI Program Donated Textbook Collection, which was previously stored in the Greenfield Intercultural Center (above) will be moved to the Van Pelt Library.

The First-Generation, Low-Income Textbook Library collection has moved to Van Pelt Library, ending a three-year occupancy in the Greenfield Intercultural Center's attic.

Students previously reported that the FGLI library's GIC location was understaffed and lacked adequate technology, calling for more space and funding. Now, students are able to reserve books from the FGLI library online and pick up orders from Van Pelt or ship their materials to their off-campus learning address free of charge.

Founded in 2017, the FGLI library helps students save hundreds of dollars on required course materials each semester. The library opened for the spring semester on Jan. 5 under the new arrangement with Penn Libraries, in which students are able to search for materials through Van Pelt's online LIBRA Course Text selection.

Due to a high volume of materials, the FGLI library no longer accepts all donations. Students must now fill out a Google form and have their donation approved by staffers at the library.

FGLI Program Director Toyce Holmes said she was relieved the move finally came to fruition after talks to relocate the library began in fall 2019. Now, the responsibility of keeping track of books falls on Penn Libraries, and a liaison maintains communication between the parties, Holmes said.

"It's still a partnership, [but] we don't see day-to-day how many books are going out or, you know, 'I need to pull this.' The library has taken that on, and we thank them for that," Holmes said.

The process of physically relocating the books from the GIC to the Van Pelt Library started in spring 2020 before being halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While closed for the fall semester, Penn Libraries hired a moving company to help the GIC relocate the textbooks, Holmes said.

While housed in the GIC's attic, processing requests could be time consuming for GIC work-study students, who reported that the outdated software in the library caused requests to take up to two hours to fulfill. All the library's information was stored on spreadsheets, and students had to submit textbook requests through a Google form.

The GIC does not have an elevator, and students had to climb up and down the stairs to deliver the books, Nursing sophomore and GIC work-study student Nyair Locklear said.

"The actual GIC building is fairly small and is an older building. It's got really steep stairs but no elevator, and all the textbooks were stored on the top floors. So every time textbooks had to be moved, one had to carry all that weight up and down the stairs all the time," Locklear said. "It was difficult to organize, especially as more and more students started using the library and receiving more textbooks."

Penn First Plus Executive Director Marc Lo said addressing the logistical problems with the FGLI library were one the GIC's top priorities when he joined Penn's staff in January 2019. The closure of the FGLI textbook library in the fall made the process of moving the donated textbook library to Van Pelt easier, he added.

Locklear said finding affordable textbooks last semester was confusing for some students as the FGLI library did not operate in fall 2020 due to the pandemic.

"It's been super difficult to keep track of what resources are and aren't still running," Locklear said. "When you change anything, especially during the pandemic, it's just been more difficult."

While the library was closed last fall, Lo sent an email to the Penn First Plus mailing list offering free access codes for a limited number of FGLI students in certain courses. College first year Kelly Garcia-Ramos said she found this helpful, and praised the accessibility of the FGLI library as a resource this semester.

Get our newsletter, Dear Penn, delivered to your inbox every weekday morning.

I find that what holds people back from applying to Penn is the financial reasons, but Penn has amazing resources for people like me, she said. I would definitely recommend [the library] to other students if theyre ever worried about textbooks.

Holmes said she is excited for the future of the library, adding that since it is now under the jurisdiction of Penn Libraries with the ability to order books online for shipping, it is more accessible to FGLI students.

The library has dedicated staff there to properly catalog it. Whats great about it now which is a payoff is that Penn Libraries can ship these for free to students, Holmes said. I dont know if we couldve offered that service if we had it at the GIC.

Read the rest here:
FGLI library moves to Van Pelt with new online ordering and shipping options - The Daily Pennsylvanian

TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your inbox.

Block Party To Go charity fundraiser

Participants in North Hills Community Outreachs annual block party fundraiser wont be able to gather in person this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

But the North Hills charity and social service agency is still planning to party.

Have fun at home with a Block Party To Go party bag. The adult bags include a do-it-yourself pizza kit, wine, dessert, a game and more. The childrens bag includes a craft kit from Dots and Doodles, snacks and other items.

Some of the bags will include a bonus gift card to a local restaurant or business. The first 300 party-to-go kits will include a link to play BuzzWorthy Pub Trivia.

More information and an order form for party bags are available online at: NHCO/Block-Party.

Free tax prep help

A free tax preparation service is being offered by the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania through April 10.

The service is available virtually or through a combination of online and in-person meetings.

Clients can upload their materials and tax experts will prepare and review the return.

The hybrid tax preparation will require two brief appointments in a safe environment, following covid-19 guidelines, to provide information and review the return.

The service is available to residents in Allegheny, Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties.

Assistance from a volunteer tax preparer is available for people and families with a total annual income of up to $57,000.

A free, do-it-yourself online tax assistance program is available at myfreetaxes.com.

Womens Business Network meetings

The Womens Business Networks three chapters in the North Hills have scheduled free networking sessions for February.

The Cranberry Chapter meets on the first and third Thursday of each month at 7:30 am. The chapter will meet on Feb. 4 and 18. For more information, contact Cynthia at 724-316-3427.

The Wexford Chapter has its meetings on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 8:15 a.m. This months meetings will take place Feb. 9 and 23. For details call Jocelin at 724-553-4452.

The Criders Corners Chapter holds regular meetings on the second and fourth Thursday of each month at noon. Februarys meetings are on the 11th and 25th. Call Sherri for details at412-760-9601.

An All Virtual Chapter holds regular meetings via Zoom at 7:30 p.m. on the first and third Wednesday of each month. For details call Jennifer Pasquale at 412-908-1663.

Ash Wednesday service

Hampton Presbyterian Church will hold an Ash Wednesday worship service to mark the first day of Lent on Feb. 17 at 7:30 p.m.

Depending on the covid restrictions in place when the service occurs, ashes might be distributed, according to church officials.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the nursery will not be available. However, children are invited to attend the service with their families.

The service also will be livestreamed to monitors in several locations in the building for people who want to participate but prefer to remain outside the sanctuary.

The church is located at 2942 East Hardies Road in Gibsonia.

Hampton Junior Football registration

Registration is open for the Hampton Junior Football Associations 26th season.

The organization has football teams and cheerleading squads for three age groups: Spikes, 5-8 years old; K9, 9-10 years old; and Dawgs, 11-12 years old.

This year, Hampton will play host to the United Youth Football League championship game.

Association officials say the top priority for its program is player safety.

Registration costs $140 through Feb. 28. The cost to to sign up during March and April is $190. After May 1, the registration fee will be $240.

For more information, see the Associations Facebook page or send an email to: doughjfa@gmail.com.

Block Northway hosting students art exhibit

Art created by students in the North Hills is on display through Feb. 18 at The Block Northway in Ross.

The artwork was made by elementary, middle school and high school students in the Hampton and North Hills school districts and Holy Cross & Blessed Trinity Academy.

The display also features a giant quilt made up of 310 ceramic tiles created by students at Hamptons Wyland Elementary school.

The art is being displayed in the South Corridor, Upper Level between Lands End and DSW. The pieces also will be featured on The Block Northways website throughout the year.

Northern Tier Library activities

Here are some of the upcoming activities and programs at the Northern Tier Regional Library in Hampton. Some programs require registration, which can be done online or by calling the library at 724-449-2665. Additional information and updates about programs also are available on the librarys Facebook page.

Meditating with Plants, Feb. 18 at 6 p.m.: Grace Astraea of TimeSpaceOne Healing Arts will lead a program on connective and calming meditation experiences with your favorite plant via Zoom.

Simple instructions for preparing and implementing a plant meditation will be given. The group also will spend a short period practicing the strengthening relationship to the living world via our plants.

No previous experience is needed, just an open mind and willingness to learn more about your relationship to the plant kingdom. Registration is required to receive the Zoom meeting invitation link.

North Park Bald Eagles, Feb. 9 at 7 p.m.: Bald Eagles are one of the biggest and most recognizable birds in the United States.

Master Naturalist Ken Knapp will present a program via Zoom to share information about this species and provide an update on whats going on with the local eagles.

This program is intended for adults, but all ages are welcome to attend. Registration is required to receive the Zoom meeting invitation link.

Winter Valentines Day at Hogwarts: Request a take-home kit to discover some magical Valentines Day crafts inspired by our favorite Wizarding school.

This craft bundle will be available for pickup on Feb. 11 from 4 to 6 p.m. People who cannot pick up their bundles during those times can retrieve them from the librarys lobby.

This bundle is for all ages and registration is required by Feb. 7 at midnight to ensure enough supplies are available.

Toddler Story Time: Uploads at 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 9 and 23.

Preschool Story Time: Uploads at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 10 and 24.

Rhymes, Songs, & Yoga Poses: Uploads at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 4, 11, and 25.

Take-Home Crafts: Kids and adults of all ages are invited to create and enjoy a simple weekly take-home craft. Runs through Feb. 8.

The Weekly Project: This six-week program features a variety of activities that children can do with their families at home, including cooking, crafting, art and STEM. Register online or by telephone to get take-home materials for the program that runs through Feb. 8.

Take-Home Maker Mondays: Participants can pick up a supply kit and follow a weekly tutorial video that will be posted on the librarys various social media pages. Feb, 8: Mini Valentines Day pillow, Feb. 22: Marble Maze.

Winter Reading Challenge 2021: Join readers from across Allegheny County in the Winter Reading Challenge 2021, which runs through Feb. 28.

Family Movie Nights: Enjoy some movies, a cup of hot chocolate and a bag of popcorn on a cold winter night by picking up a Family Movie Night Kit.

Crafts at Heart: Beginning Feb. 10, adults and teens can pick up kits to create handmade Valentines Day heart-themed crafts.

Categories: Hampton Journal | Local

TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your inbox.

More Hampton Journal Stories

WPIAL posts latest swimming and diving performance lists

What to watch in WPIAL sports Feb. 1, 2021: Key girls basketball games

Hampton area real estate transactions for the week of Jan. 31

Hampton girls off to red-hot start after adopting up-tempo style

Hampton competitive spirit squad adapting to all-new calendar

Continued here:
In brief: Block party to go, free tax prep help, women's business network, library programs and more in Hampton - TribLIVE

The Alliance Review

MARLINGTON MEETING Marlington Local Schools Board of Education plans a virtual regular meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday. During the meeting, the board says it will recess into executive sessions for the purpose of discussing the appointment, employment, dismissal and compensation of a public employee. The meeting will be live-streamed on the Marlington Technology Departments YouTube channel.

TRAVELING PANTRY Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley will collaborate with the Village of Sebring, Sebring Local School District and the Ohio National Guard to host a Traveling Food Pantry beginning at 10 a.m. Friday at B.L. Miller Elementary School, 506 W. Virginia Ave. Food will be distributed in front of the school to residents of Sebring and Beloit villages and Smith Township. Recipients will receive food in the trunk of their car, which should be clear of all other belongings. Windows of the vehicle should be rolled up. Recipients should not exit their vehicles for any reason. The Traveling Food Pantry is designed to address the surge in need for food assistance due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

VIETNAM VETERANS Alliance Chapter #157 of the Vietnam Veterans Association will meet at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday at 880 S. Union Ave. The group will discuss the dedication process for the Vietnam Era Veterans' Monument.

SOUP SALE Mile Branch Grange plans its monthly drive-thru soup sale from 4 to 6 p.m. Feb. 11. Cost is $7 per quart.This months soups will be broccoli cheese and vegetable beef. Soup will be packaged and delivered directly to your car ready to heat when you get home. Mile Branch Grange is at 495 Knox School Road. Call 330-821-8023 to reserve soup. Leave your name, phone number, type of soup and number of quarts requested. Soup must be preordered by noon Feb. 10.

LIBRARY PROBLEM Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County encountered a glitch in the Library's Sierra circulation software, there was an auto-renew problem with any materials due Jan. 29. Also, no courtesy notices were sent out for items due Jan. 29. This is the only date affected by the issue. Patrons who have materials that were due Jan. 29 should either renew through their online library account atLibraryVisit.orgor call 330-744-8636 and talk with a staff member.

FACULTY LECTURE Robert Woodward,associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of MountUnion,will present the Faculty Lectureat 7 p.m. Feb. 8. The lecture will be available via livestream atmountunion.edu/facultylecture2021.Woodward will present The (Microscopic) Enemy Among Us: Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria and Humanitys Response."He will discuss the emergence of antibiotic resistance in bacteria and how humanity is responding using novel approaches in the laboratory, health care facilities and antibiotic marketplace.Woodward received his bachelor of arts in chemistry, a bachelor of science in biology, and a doctorate in philosophy in synthetic organic chemistry, all fromThe OhioState University.He has been a member of the Mount Union faculty since 2012. Established in 1959, the Faculty Lecture features a member of the Mount Union faculty. This annual event affords the chosen faculty member an opportunity to give a special lecture relating to interesting or important developments in the individuals own field or exploring matters of general concern to the faculty.For more information, call Mount Unions Office of Marketing at 330-823-6063.

Read more:
Area news in brief for Feb. 2 - The-review