Rather than take medical supplies the hospitals need, the nurses hit the hardware store.
Source: Across Minnesota, nurses make free house calls to patients in pain | Star Tribune
More heros.
Publix is buying excess food from farmers and donating it to food banks
Publix has launched an initiative where it will purchase fresh produce and milk from farmers impacted by the COVID-19 crisis and donate the goods directly to Feeding America food banks that are in its “operating area.”
Source: Publix is buying excess food from farmers and donating it to food banks
What a great idea.
Semi-transparent solar cells could rival rooftop solar for efficiency
Windows capable of harvesting energy from the sun have been on the horizon for a number of years, but they’re yet to help cut down a building’s energy costs. A new development from Australian researchers may change that.
Source: Semi-transparent solar cells could rival rooftop solar for efficiency
Love this idea — hope it pans out.
A scuba diving group is making face masks out of recycled ocean plastic
A scuba diving group is turning plastic water bottles that once polluted oceans into face masks for people to protect themselves against the coronavirus.
Source: A scuba diving group is making face masks out of recycled ocean plastic
Two birds, one (plastic) stone!
Anti-vaxxers: Coronavirus is changing some minds about vaccinations – CNN
Scientists are racing to produce a coronavirus vaccine in what is something of a challenge to the anti-vaccine movement. But the virus has also done something more startling. It has made some anti-vaxxers change their minds.
Source: Anti-vaxxers: Coronavirus is changing some minds about vaccinations – CNN
Progress.
A California man is handing out free coffee to essential workers — from his kitchen window – CNN
In compliance with the six-feet social distancing guideline, Ben Ramirez hands out the coffee with a toy gorilla arm, an idea given to him by his five-year-old son.
Source: A California man is handing out free coffee to essential workers — from his kitchen window – CNN
Very cool.
When family reunions are ‘6 feet of space, and an international border!’ | KOMO
ABBOTSFORD, B. C. — What to do when your family lives on both sides of the U. S. -Canadian border, but the border is closed for non-essential travel? Have a family get together *at* the border — all while not only maintaining social distancing, but international boundary distancing as well. Gavin Willis is originally from Lynden, Wash. , but now lives with his wife in British Columbia. His brother and wife also live in B. C. , but the rest of their family remains in Lynden.
Source: When family reunions are ‘6 feet of space, and an international border!’ | KOMO
Pretty cool. I’ve driven that road — it’s pretty surreal to realize the other road is in another country.
Watch and listen: Ballard’s opera man lets loose from his lawn every weekday | The Seattle Times
Stephen Wall, a classically trained tenor and veteran Seattle Opera performer, has been giving daily 5 p.m. performances on weekdays for nearly two weeks now.
Source: Watch and listen: Ballard’s opera man lets loose from his lawn every weekday | The Seattle Times
Not a huge fan of opera, but I love the idea!
Signing on: The deaf workers weaning a capital city off plastic bags | Global development | The Guardian
Ethiopian paper bag firm employs 18 deaf workers who use sign language to persuade clients to choose greener alternative
Two birds, one stone!
Coronavirus survivor donates plasma to treat COVID-19 patients in St. Louis | Coronavirus | stltoday.com
Three patients on ventilators have received transfusions since Thursday.
I’ve run across several similar stories, including at least one local here to Seattle. Their dedication to helping others survive is inspiring.