Stunner in means

In short order, the world has changed, and so has the thinking about public gatherings. Parties have been postponed. Restaurants have closed, and we have had to reconsider such commonplace activities as gathering with our friends. Under orders to socially distance ourselves, isolate and even self-quarantine, communal activities cannot be taken for granted. And what’s more communal than drinking wine? In our new cautionary, stay-at-home environment, drinking wine may seem as much of a balm as making soup or bingeing on Netflix. Sharing a bottle with roommates or a spouse raises no issues or eyebrows. But what if social distancing means you are actually by yourself? Is it all right to open that bottle? Obviously, the question of whether to drink when alone doesn’t, in the words of that wise nightclub owner, amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world. But it is a question that people who love wine may ask themselves if they find themselves temporarily isolated. Enjoying a … [Read more...] about Wine is for sharing. What does that mean in self-quarantine?

TURIN: A wonderful winning goal from substitute Paulo Dybala sent Juventus back to the top of Serie A with a 2-0 victory over title rivals Inter Milan at an empty Allianz Stadium on Sunday. Juve, who opened the scoring through Aaron Ramsey, lead on 63 points, one ahead of Lazio and nine clear of Inter in third, although Antonio Conte's side have a game in hand. Midfielder Ramsey fired home the first goal from close range soon after the break and was also involved in the second. Juventus's Argentine forward Dybala exchanged passes with the Wales international on the edge of the area before dribbling around defender Ashley Young and showing great invention to find the bottom corner with the outside of his boot. The game was played without fans present after the Italian government ordered that all matches are held behind closed doors until April 3. Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic returned from injury and they were grateful to have the Slovenian back as he blocked a Matthijs … [Read more...] about Dybala stunner sends Juve top with closed-doors win over Inter

As the popular 2020 Apocalypse Bingo meme jokingly emphasizes, it’s been a stressful year. This makes me worry about our health. According to the allostatic load model, the effects of stress are cumulative. Exposure to stressors activates the sympathetic-adrenal-medullary axis (SAM) and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. SAM releases the catecholamines epinephrine and norepinephrine from the adrenal glands. Meanwhile, the HPA releases glucocorticoids, like cortisol, which are steroid hormones . This physiological stress response helps us respond and adapt to stress. In fact, it’s remarkable how much stress we can bear. But it’s not without consequence. Over time these physiological adaptations to stress cause significant wear-and-tear on your body that can negatively affect your immune system, metabolic processes, and your cardiovascular system. In other words, allostatic processes lead to increases in blood pressure, lipids, glucose, and inflammation, which … [Read more...] about What Does ‘Allostatic Load’ Mean For Your Health?

CHICAGO/WASHINGTON: U.S. airlines are preparing to tap the government for up to US$25 billion in grants to cover payroll in a sharp travel downturn triggered by the coronavirus, even after the government warned it may take stakes in exchange for bailout funds, people familiar with the matter said. After the U.S. House of Representatives approves the airline bailout and President Donald Trump signs it as early as Friday, airlines are to receive initial payments within 10 days. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin can demand equity, warrants or other financial instruments in order to "provide appropriate compensation to the federal government." A Treasury spokeswoman declined to comment on a report that Mnuchin would demand equity. Airlines can ask for the equivalent of their payroll between April 1 and Sept. 30 of last year, according to the terms of the bill, meaning some large airlines could get US$4 billion or more in total. Delta Air Lines , for example, paid roughly US$5.6 … [Read more...] about US airlines to dash for cash grants, not loans, even with potential government stake

SINGAPORE: While many were visiting family or enjoying a break from work during the Chinese New Year weekend, a group of Singapore Police Force (SPF) officers and their canine colleagues from the Police K-9 Unit were hard at work, patrolling public spaces to keep Singapore safe. One of them was 29-year-old Staff Sergeant (SSG) Seah Zhen Yao and his three-year-old police patrol dog, Dux. They were on the night shift on the second day of Chinese New Year. Until 6am on Sunday (Feb 18), the duo patrolled crowded public areas such as Geylang, Little India and the former St James Power Station. Their task: To keep public order, especially at the nightclub hotspots where scuffles are common. ​​​​​​​When we visited SSG Seah and Dux at the Police K-9 Unit Headquarters along Mowbray Road this week, the three-year-old Dutch Shepherd looked every bit as fierce, muscular and alert as we thought he would be. He cut a commanding figure with his pert ears and police dog harness. FIRST … [Read more...] about Man’s best friend – and colleague: The service dogs of the Police K-9 Unit