When Rebecca Colbert had the choice to attend law school or pursue a career as a librarian, a mentor told her that she could succeed in either field, but would have a more significant effect on others lives as a librarian.

At that time, Colbert was working at the UNLV law library and said her mentors observation made her choice simple.

Im so glad I listened to it. Because its part intellectual, its part social work, quite honestly, working in a library these days, said Colbert, who now manages the Las Vegas-Clark County Library Systems department of collections and bibliographic services. Were so anchored in public service in our library district that everything you do feels like a deliberate [act] to help somebody that comes into the library.

Whether someone arrives at the library looking for entertainment, help writing a resume or food through the librarys meal program, Colbert said librarians are used to navigating complex situations and wearing many hats as they help patrons.

The pandemic forced libraries across the state to temporarily close in-person services and Colbert, along with other librarians across Nevada and the country, had to adjust to remote work environments, digital-only services, and now a phased reopening without clear guidelines.

In Las Vegas, the library system increased digital offerings, including Ancestry.com and Rosetta Stone subscriptions patrons could access at home, but Colbert worries about homeless youth who came to the library to take part in programming and people who relied on the library services.

Usage of the library systems homework help database went down from February to March, in line with school closures, Colbert said, but e-media usage increased. She half-jokingly added that students might be driving e-media usage now that they are no longer needing the librarys homework help database.

Colberts calculations show that digital magazine usage increased by 108 percent, e-book usage went up 20 percent, audiobook use increased to 249 percent, and movies and TV use went up 552 percent.

As for what people were checking out? Colbert said that as of the end of April, the books patrons were reading mainly fell into the self-help, gratitude, and fiction categories.

The number one title for e-books on one of our platforms is called Unfu*k Yourself. And I know this title because a therapist once recommended it to me, and I died laughing when I saw that at the top of the chart, Colbert said with a laugh. And I thought, well, this shows some self-awareness. People realize that were in a weird situation, and its a little bit stressful, and they want to get through it. And its good that theyre coming to the library to do that.

Since moving into phases one and two of reopening, the library system in Vegas put a curbside pickup and book drop-off service in place and reinstated regular library hours at 24 of the 25 branches.

Reopening guidelines for the library follow social distancing protocols but also allow patrons to come in and use WiFi and computers. To encourage patrons to check out books and stop by, the library is also offering collectible bookmarks that feature hockey players from the Vegas Golden Knights and free art gallery displays at branches around the valley.

Coronavirus closures also sped up the transition to digital services in the Washoe County Library System, including moving in-person story readings online. However, Jeff Scott, director of the system, said reopening brings a new set of challenges and frequent changes.

Its tough because, like every organization in the state, were kind of all on our own, so we have to kind of figure out, what can we do safely? Scott said.

So far, the Washoe County Library offers limited grab-and-go and drive-up services atindividual librariesand is waiting until cases decrease to open libraries further.

As part of social distancing requirements, Scott said every patron is required to wear a facial covering. If someone forgets, the library system has bandanas they can take. Whenever someone argues about the policy, the librarians request that the anti-masker leave or potentially ban the client from using library services for an extended period.

Were always on the edge of if something happens and something spikes to shut everything back down, and thats kind of why we really wanted to emphasize the virtual services, Scott said.

Scotts priority is to ensure the libraries are a safe environment for the public and his staff. The library uses the same incident reporting system as the casinos, and he wants everyone to take the library distancing guidelines seriously.

Along with navigating reopening, libraries are also facing financial uncertainties.

Were all worried about budget cuts because we know in the state of Nevada, things are going to be difficult long after weve reopened, Colbert said. A part of our budget comes from the consolidated tax money, and theres going to be less of that to go around.

The consolidated tax consists of revenue combined from six taxes, including levies on cigarettes, liquor, real estate transactions and vehicle registrations.

During economic downturns,libraries tend to see increased usage but decreased funding. Potential budget cuts might mean putting library renovation plans on hold but not cutting essential programs for teens or other library users, Colbert said, emphasizing that library systems are there to serve the community.

Part of my job is circulation, and right now, Im not concerned about circulation. Im concerned about the health and well-being of our regulars, Colbert said. Were here to help. We want two-way communication. Tell us what you need our whole goal is to get through it together.

See more here:
Nevada librarians navigate a cautious reopening, eye budget cuts on the horizon - Northern Nevada Business Weekly

Damian Wilson

is a UK journalist, ex-Fleet Street editor, financial industry consultant and political communications special advisor in the UK and EU.

is a UK journalist, ex-Fleet Street editor, financial industry consultant and political communications special advisor in the UK and EU.

With festivals and concerts canceled, the live-music industry says it needs government assistance to survive. But shouldnt mega-rich musicians be dipping into their own pockets to help, rather than taking aid from the state?

The coronavirus pandemic has lured many millionaires and billionaires out of their hidey-holes looking to build on their fortunes, and the latest are our friends from the music industry, bemoaning their inability to spend summer in luxuriously detailed Airstream trailers while fans roll around in the mud at live-music events across the UK.

In a letter to the British Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden, and showing all the self-awareness of toddlers in the dress-up box, more than 1,500 musicians are asking for government help so they can keep on fleecing us through overpriced tickets, drinks and T-shirts, while they continue to make money.

Of course, the letter, signed by Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones, the Cure, Annie Lennox, Coldplay and countless others, declares, This sector doesnt want to ask for government help.

Right. Good. Got it.

But it goes on, The promoters, festival organisers and other employers want to be self-sufficient, as they were before lockdown. But, until these businesses can operate again, which is likely to be 2021 at the earliest, government support will be crucial to prevent mass insolvencies, and the end of this great world-leading industry.

So Paul, Mick, Keith, Nick Cave, Dizzee Rascal and Dua Lipa dont want to ask, but theyve asked anyway.

And the reason for this incredible pivot on their sacred principles?

Well, their letter reads, The government has addressed two important British pastimes, football and pubs, and its now crucial that it focuses on a third: live music. For the good of the economy, the careers of emerging British artists, and the UKs global-music standing, we must ensure that a live-music industry remains when the pandemic has finally passed.

While I like a good tune as much as the next guy, Im not about to join truly filthy-rich musicians and knights of the realm such as McCartney (worth $1.2 billion) and Jagger ($500 million), or the members of Coldplay, ($475 million) in demanding that taxpayer money be used in this way.

And anyway, why now? Why not when the pandemic first hit and everyone formed an orderly queue to suck on the taxpayer teat? Businesses were asked to present their case, detail where they would fall short and apply for help in staying afloat until things improved. In general, that scheme has worked as advertised.

Where was the live-music industry when all this was happening? Backstage, sucking up to its stars?

Sorry, but it looks like they missed that particular soundcheck.

People employed in other sectors retail, for instance are losing their jobs by the thousands every week. Never mind blowing a couple of hundred quid this summer to sit in a field listening to music for a weekend, folk need to pay the bills and buy food first.

Sleeping in a wet tent at an overpriced gig with stinking chemical toilets is a long way down the to-do list at the moment.

The Culture Secretary should make it clear that, despite the star-name signatories and the self-determination that its a critical part of the British arts landscape, the world-beating 5.2 billion-per-year music industry (according to the Music Venue Trust) should not be looking to the public purse for financial assistance.

Simply using that terribly overused and rarely true term world-beating should ensure its excluded from even asking.

Instead, the Secretary of State should counsel the industry to use its considerable reach among artists, promoters, ticket agencies and investors to build a sustainable model that can survive a break of six months.

That firm but fair tactic worked with billionaire space enthusiast Richard Branson, who finally got the message that, no, the British government would not be bailing out his Virgin Atlantic airline. So, he cashed in some of his own significant share portfolio, got his partner Delta Airlines to dig deep, lured some venture capitalists to the table and hey, presto! Virgin steps back from the brink and lives to fly another day.

This plea from the live-music industry will surely win a lot of support, and maybe I could have been on board had it not been for one more thing. As part of its pitch, the #LetTheMusicPlay campaign is asking fans to post messages about the last gig they attended.

Please, please, no. Surely, one of the most mind-numbing, soul-destroying, life-sapping experiences you can endure is some self-congratulatory twonk sharing unsolicited details of a mundane gig where they saw either a musician or band that later found fame whether through legendary notoriety, tremendous talent or epic drug abuse as if they work as a cultural talent-spotter in their own world of cool.

I would rather jam drumsticks in my ears and beat my nut with a saucepan than listen to their self-absorbed and inane twaddle. But now, their tales will be online so everyone can wow at their amaaaaaazing experience.

Its not something the taxpayer should ever be asked to encourage. Hold tight, Mr Dowden were depending on you.

Think your friends would be interested? Share this story!

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of RT.

See more here:
Instead of begging for government handouts, how about millionaire musicians bail out the industry themselves? - RT

While Americans still have not adopted mask-wearing as a general norm, were wearing masks more than ever before. Mask-wearing is mandated in California, and in many counties masks are near-universal in public spaces. So I have started wondering: Does wearing a mask change our social behavior and our emotional inclinations? And if mask-wearing does indeed change the fabric of our interactions, is that one reason why the masks are not more popular in the U.S.?

When no one can see our countenances, we may behave differently. One study found that children wearing Halloween masks were more likely to break the rules and take more candy. The anonymity conferred by masks may be making it easier for protesters to knock down so many statues.

And indeed, people have long used masks to achieve a kind of plausible deniability. At carnival festivities around the world people wear masks, and this seems to encourage greater revelry, drunkenness and lewd behavior, traits also associated with masked balls. The mask creates another persona. You can act a little more outrageously, knowing that your town or village, a few days later, will regard that as a different you.

Read more:
OPINION EXCHANGE | Why Americans are having an emotional reaction to masks - Minneapolis Star Tribune

I dont watch a lot of basketball. If Im a fan of any team, its the Indiana Pacers. I watched them all the time when Reggie Miller was at his peak and I was dumb enough to believe they ever had a real shot at winning a championship. Now I just watch the playoffs and finals. I dont even know 90% of the players in the league anymore, I just like big sports spectacles with stakes and tension.

The absolute grossest thing about watching the NBAs television product right now is the jersey ads. I didnt even know it was a thing that happened until I turned on a playoff game a few years ago and all of a sudden the Cleveland Cavaliers had a Goodyear logo on their chest. The Pacers were among the very last to adopt a corporate sponsor of their jersey, but they eventually slapped on a big ugly Motorola logo.

Thereve been talks for a while now about the MLB doing something similar and turning their jersey sleeves into sellable ad-space. Despite how much baseballs cultural relevancy has declined, the idea of ancient teams like the Yankees, Cubs, or Reds sporting a fat RAGU CHUNKY SAUCE logo is just obscene.

There hasnt really been anything tangible pointing to the NFL doing jersey ads, but if basketball has already done it and baseball is planning and hoping for it, you can safely assume its on footballs mind.

The NFLs reach is so massive. Its viewership so entirely eclipses all other sports in America that selling ad-space on jerseys would be the most visible (and, for the advertiser, expensive) incarnation of the jersey ad in the country. Football teams covering uniforms in ads wouldnt feel quite as nothing is sacred as if and when baseball does it, but it would be one of the most blatant expressions of greed in sports history.

When the NBA started making their players living, breathing, dribbling commercials, it was under the guise of the companies that pay for the privilege of helping to elevate the leagues and individual teams brands. This is obviously not reality. Based on my painstaking research method of living in Indiana, Ive determined Motorolas Pacers partnership has added a grand total of zero new Pacers fans.

The ads arent even aesthetically nice. They couldnt make them blend more seamlessly because then people might not notice them. Instead, you end up with trashy messes like the Thunder with a bright yellow and red Loves Travel Stops logo.

There isnt a corporate jersey sponsorship that would significantly increase the NFLs permeation of American culture. It feels like were already at critical mass there. So making Patrick Mahomes a literal billboard would be a cynical money-move with legitimately zero benefit for fans. Yet, it feels inevitable that at some point during the Chiefs upcoming 10 consecutive championships well be watching them hold up the Lombardi with everyones last names replaced with CHEEZ-IT SNAPD.

Sports is ultimately a business, and money means more to these leagues than anything. I get that. I wont even get that annoyed if and when the NFL tarps off the lower sections of stadiums and replaces seats with advertising signage. Id rather not be inundated with even more corporate logos during football games, but it somehow feels slightly less unappealing than watching games played in front of empty seats.

But the alternative to having ads on uniforms is to just not have ads on uniforms. Which is ultimately what makes the NBA already doing it and the MLB wanting to do it so gross. These arent leagues that need those ads to survive. So theyre selling space on their players bodies for no reason other than money-worship.

Hopefully the NFL has had a rare moment of self-awareness and realizes the money-grubbing image of selling jersey ads isnt worth the extra cash theyd bring in. But its difficult to imagine the NFL ever being self-aware, so thats probably a doomed hope.

When I was a kid and played Babe Ruth League baseball, our league functioned on the company-sponsored teams model. I didnt play for the Tigers or Bears, I played for McDonalds, Lynch Construction, and Pizza King. Granted, that was Babe Ruth League and not a professional enterprise, but it is an example of when jersey ads are not only palatable but ultimately beneficial.

McDonalds was the exception in my towns Babe Ruth League. Most of the teams were sponsored by local businesses or small local chains. Any funding they provided went into the league itself and the players and their families got discounts or free food from the business that sponsored their team. A pretty even exchange that had some benefit for everyone involved.

If you expand that concept from youth leagues to the pros, the smaller semi-pro and pro leagues that dont have nearly the exposure of the NBA, MLB, NFL, etc. can actually use the money they get from selling jersey ads. It still feels a little gross to see it on TV, but the players feel a bit less like living NASCAR stock cars when theyre not playing in a multi-billion dollar league.

Ads arent fun. Thats all this really comes down to. Ads arent fun, and putting them on a human when you already basically have infinite money tiptoes on the borderline of evil. Its that particular brand of capitalistic evil that weve been so drunk on for so long we think its normal.

It wont make me stop watching, but I will feel really slimy and rotten when I see Mahomes execute his first no-look pass wearing a glowing, digital neon visor sponsored by BAR HARBOR CLAM JUICE.

View post:
The Unnecessary Grossness of the Jersey Ad - Chiefs Digest

DUBLIN, July 2, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Diabetes Care Devices Market by Type (SMBG, CGMS, Lancets, Insulin Pumps, Insulin Pens, Insulin Syringes, Mobile Apps), Patient Care Settings (Hospitals & Specialty Clinics, Self & Home Care), and Country (Brazil, Russia, India, China) - Forecast to 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The diabetes care devices (BRIC) market size is projected to reach USD 4.3 billion by 2025 from USD 1.7 billion in 2020, at a CAGR of 16.2% during the forecast period.

The growth in this market is primarily attributed to the sharp increase in diabetes, increasing awareness of diabetes management due to the rising number of diabetes awareness campaigns and screening camps, favorable national health strategies, and government-led endorsement of medical devices.

By type, under the insulin delivery devices segment, insulin pens to hold the largest share during the forecast period

Within the type category, the diabetes care devices (BRIC) market has been segmented into blood glucose monitoring systems, insulin delivery devices, and diabetes management mobile applications. Within the insulin delivery devices segment, insulin pens held the largest share in the market. The increasing affordability of insulin pens, convenience, ease-of-use, and technological advancements in these devices that promote integrated diabetes management support the growth of this segment.

By end-user, the self/ home healthcare segment is expected to grow at a higher rate during the forecast period (2020-2025)

Based on end-user, the diabetes care devices (BRIC) market has been segmented into hospital & specialty clinics and self/home healthcare. The self/home healthcare segment is expected to grow at a higher CAGR due to the increasing awareness of self-management of diabetes, increasing portability of diabetes care devices, and technological innovations that provide real-time insights for patients and healthcare providers for decision-making regarding diabetes control and treatment planning.

India is projected to grow at the highest CAGR

China is expected to account for the largest share of the diabetes care devices (BRIC) market in 2019. The large share of this region can primarily be attributed to the sharp increase in the diabetic population in the past decade and endorsements of medical devices by the government. On the other hand, India is expected to witness the highest CAGR during the forecast period due to the increasing government investment in the medical devices industry, high prevalence of type 1 and gestational diabetes cases, and increasing diabetes awareness creation through campaigns and screening camps.

Key Topics Covered:

1 Introduction

2 Research Methodology

3 Executive Summary

4 Premium Insights 4.1 Diabetes Care Devices Market Overview 4.2 Diabetes Care Devices (Bric) Market: Geographic Growth Opportunities 4.3 Diabetes Care Devices (Bric) Market: Country Mix (2020-2025)

5 Industry Insights 5.1 Industry Trends 5.1.1 Growing Demand for Hybrid Closed-Loop Systems/Artificial Pancreas Device Systems 5.1.2 Smart Glucose Meters Enable Integrated Diabetes Management Solutions 5.1.3 Smart Insulin Pen Synchronization with Glucose Monitoring Systems Promotes Diabetes Data Sharing 5.1.4 Innovative Insulin Delivery Systems 5.2 Regulatory Analysis 5.2.1 China 5.2.2 India 5.2.3 Brazil 5.2.4 Russia 5.3 Covid-19 Impact on the Diabetes Care Devices (Bric) Market

6 Diabetes Care Devices Market, by Type 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Blood Glucose Monitoring Systems 6.2.1 Self-Monitoring Blood Glucose Monitoring Systems 6.2.1.1 Technological Innovations to Drive the Growth of Self-Monitoring Blood Glucose Monitoring Systems 6.2.2 Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems 6.2.2.1 Increasing Collaborations, Partnerships, and Agreements Between Companies to Develop Integrated Cgm Systems to Drive the Growth of This Market 6.2.3 Test Strips/Test Papers 6.2.3.1 Shift Toward Non-Invasive Methods for Blood Glucose Monitoring to Restrain the Growth of This Market during the Forecast Period 6.2.4 Lancets/Lancing Devices 6.2.4.1 Rising Focus to Reduce the Chances of Infection and Accidental Pricking to Increase the Popularity of Safety Lancets during the Forecast Period 6.3 Insulin Delivery Devices 6.3.1 Insulin Pumps 6.3.1.1 Insulin Pumps Integrated with Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems Offer the Benefits of Data Integration and Diabetes Management 6.3.2 Insulin Pens 6.3.2.1 the Convenience of Use of Insulin Pens and Increasing Affordability could Drive the Growth of This Segment during the Forecast Period 6.3.3 Insulin Syringes and Needles 6.3.3.1 Safety Concerns and Increasing Awareness of Affordable Alternatives in the Market could Restrain the Growth of This Segment during the Forecast Period 6.4 Diabetes Management Mobile Applications 6.4.1 Growing Adoption of Blood Glucose Tracking Apps and Increasing Awareness of Diabetes Among Patients to Drive Market Growth

7 Diabetes Care Devices Market, by Patient Care Settings 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Self/Home Healthcare 7.2.1 Increasing Affordability of Self-Monitoring Systems and Insulin Delivery Devices Has Fueled the Preference for Self/Home Healthcare 7.3 Hospitals & Diabetes Specialty Clinics 7.3.1 Rising Demand for Poc Testing in Hospitals Boosts the Market Growth

8 Diabetes Care Devices Market in BRIC Countries 8.1 Introduction 8.2 China: Diabetes Care Devices Market 8.2.1 Introduction 8.2.2 Market Drivers 8.2.2.1 Sharp Increase in Diabetes in the Past Decade 8.2.2.2 Favorable National Health Strategies 8.2.2.3 Government-Led Endorsement of the Medical Device Industry 8.2.3 Market Restraints 8.2.3.1 Traditional Chinese Medicine As an Alternative 8.2.3.2 High Cost of Advanced Diabetes Management Devices 8.2.4 Market Opportunities 8.2.4.1 Significant Advancements and Leveraging of Artificial Intelligence and Big Data 8.2.5 Market Challenges 8.2.5.1 Lack of Adherence of Patients to Recommended Diabetes Treatment Guidelines 8.3 India: Diabetes Care Devices Market 8.3.1 Introduction 8.3.2 Market Drivers 8.3.2.1 High Prevalence of Diabetes 8.3.2.2 Government's Make in India Campaign to Encourage Local Manufacturing of Medical Devices 8.3.2.3 Diabetes Awareness Campaigns and Screening Camps 8.3.3 Market Restraints 8.3.3.1 Lack of Accessibility to Healthcare 8.3.3.2 Inadequate Health Insurance Coverage 8.3.4 Market Opportunities 8.3.4.1 Rising Adoption of Mhealth 8.3.5 Market Challenges 8.3.5.1 Shortage of Healthcare Professionals in Diabetes Management 8.4 Brazil: Diabetes Care Devices Market 8.4.1 Introduction 8.4.2 Market Drivers 8.4.2.1 High Prevalence of Diabetes 8.4.2.2 Favorable Government Policies 8.4.3 Market Restraints 8.4.3.1 Lack of Awareness of Diabetes Care 8.4.3.2 High Prices of Advanced Diabetes Care Devices 8.4.4 Market Opportunities 8.4.4.1 Increasing Penetration of Smartphones and Rising Focus on Digital Health to Drive the Growth of Diabetes Management Platforms and Diabetes Management Mobile Applications 8.4.5 Market Challenges 8.4.5.1 Strict Regulatory Guidelines and Regulatory Process for Medical Devices 8.5 Russia: Diabetes Care Devices Market 8.5.1 Introduction 8.5.2 Market Drivers 8.5.2.1 Rising Elderly Population 8.5.2.2 Increasing Rate of Obesity 8.5.3 Market Restraints 8.5.3.1 Large Number of Undiagnosed Diabetics 8.5.4 Market Opportunities 8.5.4.1 Government Spending on Healthcare 8.5.4.2 Rising Investment of Pharma Market Players to Establish Local Manufacturing Plants 8.5.5 Market Challenges 8.5.5.1 Low Adoption of Glucose Monitoring Systems

9 Competitive Landscape 9.1 Overview 9.2 Product Benchmarking 9.3 Geographic Reach of the Top Market Players (2019) 9.4 R&D Expenditure: Key Players in the Diabetes Care Devices (Bric) Market 9.5 Market Share Analysis 9.5.1 Brazil: Diabetes Care Devices Market Share Analysis 9.5.2 Russia: Diabetes Care Devices Market Share Analysis 9.5.3 India: Diabetes Care Devices Market Share Analysis 9.5.4 China: Diabetes Care Devices Market Share Analysis 9.6 Competitive Situation and Trends 9.6.1 Partnerships, Collaborations, and Agreements 9.6.2 Product Approvals, Launches, and Upgrades

10 Company Profiles 10.1 F. Hoffman-La Roche Ltd. 10.2 Abbott 10.3 Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings Ag 10.4 Dexcom, Inc. 10.5 Medtronic Plc 10.6 B. Braun Melsungen Ag 10.7 Becton, Dickinson and Company 10.8 Acon Laboratories, Inc. 10.9 Arkray, Inc. 10.10 Sanofi 10.11 Novo Nordisk A/S 10.12 Terumo Corporation 10.13 Ypsomed 10.14 Sinocare, Inc. 10.15 Agamatrix Holdings Llc 10.16 Lifescan 10.17 Sd Biosensor, Inc. 10.18 Microgene Diagnostic Systems Pvt. Ltd. 10.19 Dr. Morepen 10.20 Bionime Corporation 10.21 Rossmax International Ltd.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/tbnrlb

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [emailprotected]

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Excerpt from:
$4.3 Billion BRIC Diabetes Care Devices Industry to 2025 - India is Projected to Grow at the Highest CAGR - PRNewswire

'The Order' is perfect pandemic escapism

Dan Gentile

June 29, 2020Updated: June 29, 2020 4a.m.

Despite the thousands of adults who self-identify as Hufflepuffs, Harry Potter is still undeniably a story written for children. As an aging fan of the series, I understand the nostalgia, but today's hellscape makes it hard to look back on the adventures of some wand-fizzling pre-teens and feel the same sense of dread at a villain whose name isn't spoken aloud. That said, magic is still tight. There's nothing more appealing right now than pure escapism, but given the assault of bad news staring up at me from my phone, keeping my attention requires a show that's a little bit ... savage. Let me introduce you to that series, which is currently blazing up Netflix's top 10 charts: "The Order."

RELATED: How HBO Max's new Anna Kendrick rom-com could revolutionize streaming

Read the original:
This chart-topping Netflix show is like an R-rated Harry Potter - SFGate

Moments in golfs recent history have taken important steps toward making the game more inclusive of the LGBTQ community. Two examples: TPC Harding Park hosting the inaugural Pride Open, organized by Greg Fitzgerald, the first out, gay male PGA teaching pro, and the USGA raising Pride flags at its headquarters in June and sharing an image of the flags on the organizations social-media account. To help make you and your course more welcoming, we asked the advice of leaders in the LGBTQ golf community. One of the most encouraging aspects of this education was finding that big change can start with small, deliberate efforts.

Train employees on inclusive terms and language

As a golf club, its important to educate your staff members, to make sure they know to be inclusive and nonjudgmental, says LPGA Tour pro Mel Reid. Educating and communicating with their members is another big thing.

Part of that education is in how players are greeted when they arrive at a course. For example, asking a woman if shes going to be playing with her husband when she arrives at a course reveals the assumption that she is straight. Simple substitutions, like using the word partner instead of husband or wife, can make a big difference.

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You dont know that these really subtle things that you say can make a person feel not safe, or make them feel like they dont belong, says Molly Gallatin, Senior Director of Brand and Content Strategy at the PGA of America. Just like you dont want to assume someones playing ability when they enter a golf course, you dont also want to assume what their lifestyle is.

Put a Pride symbol at your course

Fitzgerald talked about this idea with us first at the Pride Open in 2019, and we spoke about it again for this story. The LGBTQ community is finally feeling accepted in the golf industry, getting out and about and playing and practicing, Fitzgerald says. Whats really helping is feeling accepted and seeing theres some show of invitation or acceptance from golf courses, public or privatethings like a little sticker in the window or a Pride flag on their websites do wonders to make LGBTQ golfers feel welcome. Well be active and looking for those symbols at golf facilities.

Every leader in the LGBTQ golf community we spoke to for this story agreed that this is a critical step to welcoming LGBTQ golfers to a course.

It signifies safety to a lot of queer folks, says former Symetra Tour player Maya Reddy.

Courses could even have employees show a sign of support for Pride, says Tisha Alyn Abrea, a pro golfer and trick-shot artist whom you might have seen on Instagram. If I saw something so small, like the guy at the front desk rocking a little rainbow ribbon on his hat, I would immediately know, being part of the LGBTQ community, that makes me feel so much better, Alyn says. Id feel much more comfortable to say, My girlfriend and I would love to play a round today, or hold her hand, just be a more comfortable environment.

Pride stickers are available at thewelcomingproject.org.

Make your course known to the LGBTQ community

Gallatin says that listing your course online with a local LGBTQ community center is a good way to let LGBTQ golfers know they are welcome.

If someone, lets say, in the LGBTQ community is looking to play next weekend with some friends, and theyre wondering to themselves, theres that fear in the back of their heads, Is this a safe space? Is this a course where were going to catch some flack? Gallatin says. There are little things you can do as a businessyou can engage ahead of time with an LGBTQ community center in your area. Theyre easy to find, and typically they have lists of business that support and are LGBTQ-friendly. When I moved, that was the first thing I looked up. Get your business listed.

Increase self-awareness in interactions with playing partners

Tour pro Tadd Fujikawa says that not all homophobic comments are obvious to people, and sometimes not even intentional. But he says golfers need to become aware that things said, even if intended in jest, can have detrimental effects on players around you.

Most of the time when homophobic remarks are made, theyre not really directed at a person, its maybe even directed at themselves, Fujikawa says. It can be very triggering. Its something we need to be aware of. Just a small comment, saying something jokingly, you dont realize how hurtful that can be to someone. You hit a bad tee shot or hit a short tee shot and say, That was so gay. They can feel totally excluded from the sport.

Make an evening at your course open to all golfers

Lots of courses have a mens night and a womens night. Fujikawa and Gallatin suggest creating space for LGBTQ golfers by having a night where all golfers are welcome.

Courses could acknowledge an LGBTQ day, where obviously everyone is welcome regardless of race, gender, sexual preference, etc., Fujikawa says. You could get the message out that way and totally welcome everybody regardless of who they are and really just bring everyone together as one.

Gallatin agrees, adding that you could call it New Player league, or do an All Families Welcome league.

Dont just celebrate LGBTQ golfers during Pride Month

As it stands right now, when athletes of marginalized identities are included in the conversation, its in response to a social movement, to a certain holiday, to a tragic event that may have happened, Reddy says. And while, yes, its good to speak out around those times, it does send the message that athletes of marginalized identities are only valuable in specific moments and not the entire year.

See the article here:
How you and your course can be more welcoming to the LGBTQ golf community - Golf Digest

CLEVELAND, Ohio If the coronavirus has you staying at home to take classes online this fall instead of heading to a campus setting somewhere, heres a pennywise thing to consider explore enrolling at a lower-cost school and transferring those credits later to your regular college or university.

The difference could be thousands of dollars.

I first discovered the cost savings by accident long ago after taking a job in Cleveland with a few credits to go at Ohio State. I ended up paying Cuyahoga Community College $23.50 a credit hour on the old quarter system, about half the going rate at the time at Ohio State. But the courses counted the same, transferred just fine, and I graduated a short time later from OSU.

More has changed than the rising cost of education since the late 1980s. Its easier than ever to identify what classes will transfer and, with expanded online options, youre not even restricted to nearby schools.

This is something that could be the right fit for both existing college students, or recent high school graduates who may be altering what had been their plans to move away to school this fall.

At the very least, its worth considering.

A: Thousands of dollars for a full-time student, hundreds on an individual class.

A 2019 report from the Ohio Department of Higher Education found that for the previous year, 51,000 Ohio students saved $70.7 million by transferring work from lower-cost schools to more expensive institutions.

Scaling that down to an individual student, the price difference between Ohios public universities and its two-year colleges averages close to $2,600 a semester.

The average tuition and fees (not counting room and board) was $4,975 a semester at the main campuses for state universities this past school year, according to the Department of Higher Education. At Ohios two-year colleges, the average was less than half that - $2,369 a semester for a full-time student.

Two-year schools in the Greater Cleveland area are among the least expensive in the state, in part because of local property taxes that help pay the bill.

For example, taking 15 credit hours at Cuyahoga Community College would cost $1,788 this fall in tuition and base fees for county residents, unchanged from this past school year, or a little higher for those outside the county. A Kent State freshman on KSUs main campus would pay close to $5,800 for the same number of classes.

But its worth shopping around to see if there are any special incentives. For example, Cleveland State is offering incoming freshman a 2-for-1 deal: complete the fall semester with at least a 2.75 grade point average and attend spring semester tuition-free after other financial aid is applied.

Tuition and fees for full-time students at Ohios public two-year colleges average about $2,600 less than attending classes on the main campuses for the public universities, according to the Ohio Department of Higher Education.Rich Exner, cleveland.com

A: Yes. Its embedded in Ohios public education system, and a lot of private schools follow similar acceptance policies on transfer credits.

Sean Broghammer, associate vice president for enrollment management and admissions at Kent State, said he does believe there is a value in an on-campus experience, from developing lasting career-driven relationships with professors to learning from peers and experiencing campus life. But being on campus all the time is not for every student, and that could be more so the case this fall because of COVID-19.

Our biggest concern is that we want students to complete. We want students to make progress. If they want to take a semester off, we want to help them ensure the course they are going to complete will transfer back to Kent, Broghammer said. Were seeing a decline in the traditional student population. I think transfer is a way more students will complete their college degrees.

Back in 1989, Ohio started what is called a transfer module, so students would know exactly what credits will transfer between public schools in the state, including both two-year and four-year schools, explained Paula Compton, associate vice chancellor for articulation and transfer at the Department of Higher Education.

It was a combination of the state legislature passing some legislation for better cooperation. Then we had colleges and college presidents thinking this was important, Compton said.

Compton said more than 1,000 faculty currently work on the program to help certify that courses are equivalent from one school to the next.

In getting started, Compton suggested two websites that can help a student quickly determine what classes will qualify for transfer credit, the states own website at transfercredit.ohio.gov and transferology.com, which provides details for schools in many states.

On the Ohio system, if youre searching for what classes will transfer for what credit between institutions, navigate to the Transfer Guarantee Reporting System or the Transfer College Credit pages with this direct link. By choosing the course equivalency comparison option, you can see where the same courses are offered and what they are called from school to school.

For example, macroeconomics ENCM 151 at Lorain County Community College is equivalent to ECON2030 at Bowling Green State University.

The transferology site offers a nifty option to enter a class requirement from your regular school to see a list of other schools with matching classes eligible for transfer. For instance, if youre looking for a class that will count as Introduction to Economics at the University of Akron, the search returns 45 options just among Ohio schools. This site requires a free registration.

In both cases, however, its a good idea for current students to talk to their advisers. You dont want to take a class that doesnt end up counting fully. For instance, even if a class transfers as credit, there might be other limits, such as the number of classes taken elsewhere that can be counted toward a major or minor.

Most four-year universities are going to have transfer credit guides, Kent States Broghammer said.

A. No. My two sons each took some community college classes in the summers while they were completing their degrees at Bowling Green and Eastern Michigan universities.

For one, it worked to take online classes at Cuyahoga Community College. The price was right. The class options fit. And it was easy to stop by the school for enrollment questions or to pick up required materials at the bookstore. The credits transferred without a hitch.

For the other, the class he wanted wasnt offered in the area. But the online search tools identified Belmont College, a two-year state school near St. Clairsville, 135 miles away.

He double-checked with BG to make sure the course would fulfill his requirement, enrolled remotely and took the class online. Everything worked out smoothly, and he is yet to walk through the doors at Belmont College.

Its going to be easier to find general education requirements elsewhere, such as typical entry level courses. But it is possible to take care of some upper level requirements as well.

A: Yes it can. Some recent high school graduates may be thinking about putting off their college plans a year; call it a coronavirus-related gap year.

For those students, another idea to consider may be taking classes online at home through a community college and then going away to campus next year as an incoming sophomore, said Jack Hershey, president of the Ohio Association of Community Colleges.

An online plan this semester eliminates at least some uncertainty, Hershey said. Its the safest way to make sure you stay on track this fall. We cant predict what this virus is going to do this fall.

You do gain something from being in a physical environment while learning, especially if you live at a campus environment. But if you are not going to get there this fall, community college is an option.

The dollar savings can be as much as a typical student normally borrows for a year.

A: Sometime this summer.

We have an understanding that people are going to be making late decisions this year. I think you have plenty of time if youre thinking about this in the next month or so, Hershey said. Every community college is open enrollment. You dont have to go through SATs and things like that.

Angela Johnson, vice president of enrollment management at Cuyahoga Community College, said students can enroll right up to the start of classes on Aug. 24. But she said its a good idea not to wait to the last minute, adding that Tri-C does not charge an application fee.

If everyone waits until the last minute, it can be busy, Johnson said. We have quite a few students right now who are looking at this opportunity, pre-transfer conversations, the transient confirmations.

Transient is the college term for a student who is staying enrolled at another school say Ohio State but taking classes temporarily elsewhere, such as Tri-C. The procedures are a little different.

For example, Johnson said, financial aid such as student loans for transient students must be coordinated under agreements with the school of permanent enrollment.

A: There will be more options than before for online.

Traditional online education might not be for everyone. Typically, it has meant staying focused on assignments and checking in online for the next requirements.

But a lot has changed, and those changes are being accelerated this summer in preparation for the first fall semester of the COVID-19 era.

There will be more offerings at many schools for students to meet as a class online with the instructors, rather than working as much on their own or just watching recorded lectures.

Its a nod to the traditional learning environment. Kent States Broghammer said professors were consulted about what would work best for individual classes: in-person, remote or a hybrid of the two and for remote whether there would be live lectures.

At least 60% of our traditional in-person courses will be taught remotely, Broghammer said. Our classroom space creates a challenge for social distancing, adding that any course with at least 50 students will be taught remotely.

Hershey made the pitch that community colleges are especially experienced with online education: Weve been doing it for years. We had to do it for an adult population who may have had kids at home who could not come to campus three days a week.

A: Predictions are for higher community college enrollment statewide.

Typically during economic downturns, enrollments at community colleges go up. Reasons could involve people seeking new job skills, having more time to take classes, or searching out lower-cost alternatives to four-year schools.

As the country was coming out of the Great Recession, community college enrollment in Ohio in 2010 increased to an all-time high for full- or part-time students of 211,260.

Then, as the economy recovered, enrollment declined 19% to 170,945 by 2015 returning to about where it was at ahead of the recession in fall 2007. Four-year schools didnt see the same swings, with enrollment slipping off just 2% from 2010 to 2015, according to state data.

Tri-Cs Johnson said because of the late-enrolling nature of community college students, especially those looking for transfer credit, its very difficult to predict whether enrollment will spike this fall.

Statewide, however, Hershey, from the community college association, said evidence is developing that enrollment will be up at the two-year schools.

We have seen it in the summer already, Hershey said. We have also seen very late-breaking decisions by families and students.

Thats another reason it makes sense for students to begin exploring their options now, especially in confirming with colleges what classes will transfer and count toward degree requirements if they are already enrolled elsewhere, even if the ultimate decision will come later this summer.

Rich Exner, data analysis editor, writes cleveland.coms and The Plain Dealers personal finance column - Thats Rich! Follow on Twitter @RichExner. See other data-related stories at cleveland.com/datacentral.

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Taking college classes online this fall? Heres how students can save a lot of money Thats Rich! - cleveland.com

Structural biology education commonly employs molecular visualization software, such as PyMol, RasMol, and VMD, to allow students to appreciate structure-function relationships in biomolecules. In on-ground, classroom-based education, these programs are commonly used on University-owned devices with software preinstalled. Remote education typically involves the use of student-owned devices, which complicates the use of such software, owing to the fact that (a) student devices have differing configurations (e.g., Windows vs MacOS) and processing power, and (b) not all student devices are suitable for use with such software. Smartphones are near-ubiquitous devices, with smartphone ownership exceeding personal computer ownership, according to a recent survey. Here, we show the use of a smartphone-based augmented reality app, Augment, in a structural biology classroom exercise, which students installed independently without IT support. Post-lab attitudinal survey results indicate positive student experiences with this app. Based on our experiences, we suggest that smartphone-based molecular visualization software, such as that used in this exercise, is a powerful educational tool that is particularly well-suited for use in remote education. 2020 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

PubMed

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Rapid deployment of smartphone-based augmented reality tools for field and online education in structural biology. - Physician's Weekly

Student in class from home during lockdown

When the pandemic hit hard in March, virtually all U.S. universities switched to online education in a matter of weeks. With no time to prepare, instructors delivered lectures via videoconference, just as they would have face-to-face. Unsurprisingly, results were mixed, with many students and parents concluding that online courses arent worth the price of tuition. With the pandemic still raging, faculty are working hard to prepare for another semester of online education.

Were missing the forest for the trees. The real challenge is that the value propositions of most universities have been deteriorating for years. Universities have become too expensive leading to crushing debt burdens for many. Were not providing access to higher education at the necessary scale. The world has changed but universities havent adapted nearly enough.

Paving cowpaths

In 1990, Dr. Michael Hammer launched a management revolution with an article in Harvard Business Review, aptly titled Reengineering Work: Dont Automate, Obliterate.

Frustrated by the disappointing returns that companies were getting on large tech investments, Dr. Hammer wrote: It is time to stop paving the cow paths. Instead of embedding outdated processes in silicon and software, we should obliterate them and start over. We should reengineer our businesses: use the power of modern information technology to radically redesign our business processes in order to achieve dramatic improvements in their performance.

Universities have endured in the same form for centuries - professors lecturing from the front of a room to students sitting behind desks. Courses follow a standard, linear structure, meeting each week with assignments in between. While many students live in a digital world, not much has changed other than PowerPoint slides replacing blackboards and chalk.Sure, some universities have implemented learning management systems like Canvas, but these are used primarily to share syllabi and disseminate grades. The essential experience hasnt changed.

Software thinking

Think of a university like you would Netflix, offering a curated and personalized catalog of online (and offline) courses in a variety of fields. Online courses can be offered live or on-demand and can be designed to include varying degrees of interaction with the instructor. Recorded content can be released on a schedule or all at once. Consider the possibilities.

Many courseslike a class on Shakespeare or Introductory Accountingdont require new content for years on end. A class recorded once and offered multiple times reduces instructional costs while increasing convenience for students. Yet, we teach the same class anew every semester. We rarely offer entire courses on demand. In the software world, reuse is a virtue. In education, its an afterthought.

Software codifies and scales knowhow. At the 10-campus University of California, we do not leverage scale; instead each campus operates independently. Some introductory classes are taught dozens of times a year system-wide, and the university pays an instructor for each offering. In the physical world, this made sense. In software, where the biggest advantages include zero marginal cost and no capacity limits, this makes little sense.

Software companies adopt a modular and agile approach to product development. A look under the hood reveals that standard modules are sourced from vendors and accessed by APIs. Similarly, universities should build offerings from existing courseware when appropriate. In many foundational subjects, excellent online courses exist, but offering these to students disrupts a universitys business model. Just as streaming services offer on-demand experiences with world-class performers, a university could offer classes with the best professors. Furthermore, when new capabilities (like machine learning) are widely needed but the talent to teach them is scarce, this approach will facilitate widespread skills development.

Digital technologies have democratized content creation. Some of the most valuable software systems were built by open source communities. Individual creators have contributed to the store of knowledge through Wikipedia and platforms like YouTube in diverse domains. Yet, universities rely on proprietary lecture content developed by their own faculty.

Just like we view behind the scenes interviews with actors and directors during a Netflix show, online courses can include deeper discussions with experts, offer visualizations and simulations of scientific phenomena using virtual reality, and arrange augmented reality visits to faraway geographies. Wouldnt it be fun and engaging to chat with a tour guide in France as you visit the Louvre for a class in conversational French? Or videoconference with a Walmart executive for a class on logistics? Thinking like a software company encourages course content to be co-created by experts and non-experts.

Do online courses compare in quality?

Theres often an assumption that in-person teaching is better. Certainly, the best instructors, especially those who truly inspire their students, are very valuable but also rare. Like any other population, professor quality varies. Think back to your time at university.

Like programmers do while writing and reviewing code, professors can try multiple takes in recorded segments. In contrast, there are no do-overs in live classes. Theres a reason why studio recordings have higher fidelity than live performances.

Online classes allow for new course designs. Previously, a professor had no choice but to give the traditional lecture. As the success of Khan Academy has shown, it can be more effective to assign the lectures as homework and spend class time working on problem sets. Features like breakout rooms on videoconferencing services make it easy for professors to work collaboratively in these virtual workspaces with students.

In the consumer software world, user experience is critical. Student engagement has been a longstanding challenge, one that is exacerbated by online delivery. Among other things, instructional design practices require content to be offered in bite-sized segments with frequent assignments and quizzes and hooks into the next module. Theres a reason that TED talks are 18 minutes long and drama series have cliffhangers.

In some settings, in-person interactions with professors and fellow students can be better online. In practice, classroom discussions are dominated by the outspoken few. Students who speak English as a second language tend to participate less. Videoconferencing software democratizes the classroom, presenting students equally on an instructors screen, making it easier to draw in students.

Reinventing higher education

It starts with how we see ourselves. Universities are platforms that bring together students and professors. Today, our platform is being digitized and creating new opportunities, but we fail to see ourselves as software platform enterprises.

Companies like Apple, Alphabet, and Netflix have built successful software businesses by operating platforms where they sell their products and services to customers, while also integrating external suppliers.

Universities are closed systems, operating like traditional vertical industry businesses, offering courses only by faculty in their employ. Their structure reflects the design of the product it once was rather than the software business it can be today.

While the economics of digital production and delivery are compelling, I am not making a unilateral argument for online education. Courses in different disciplines have different teaching requirements. Universities serve different student segments with varying preferences and needs. Still, a strong case can be made that universities should more fully integrate this new modality.

We must reinvent education as a software enterprise, employing platform strategies and harnessing software industry practices like open source, modular, and agile development. Doing so will unleash rapid innovation allowing universities to deliver on the promise of higher education.

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Will COVID-19 Save Higher Education? - Forbes