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| Proud of Your Lockdown Baking? This Man Built a Giant Kookaburra | Proud of Your Lockdown Baking? This Man Built a Giant Kookaburra |
| (3 days later) | |
| SYDNEY, Australia — Some have taken to baking to while away the hours during coronavirus lockdown; others embraced gardening. For Farvardin Daliri, it was the perfect opportunity to complete his magnum opus: a 15-foot-tall replica of a bird known as a laughing kookaburra. | SYDNEY, Australia — Some have taken to baking to while away the hours during coronavirus lockdown; others embraced gardening. For Farvardin Daliri, it was the perfect opportunity to complete his magnum opus: a 15-foot-tall replica of a bird known as a laughing kookaburra. |
| He said he just wanted to cheer people up in these gloomy times. | He said he just wanted to cheer people up in these gloomy times. |
| “If a bird can laugh, why not me?” said Mr. Daliri, 65, who unveiled his work this week by towing the kookaburra, a beloved Australian icon, around his block in suburban Brisbane, where it cackled its distinctive laugh through a sound system installed inside. | “If a bird can laugh, why not me?” said Mr. Daliri, 65, who unveiled his work this week by towing the kookaburra, a beloved Australian icon, around his block in suburban Brisbane, where it cackled its distinctive laugh through a sound system installed inside. |
| He posted video of his project online without much thought. To his shock, it went viral, hailed by some as a perfect antidote for this moment. Others were simply confused. | He posted video of his project online without much thought. To his shock, it went viral, hailed by some as a perfect antidote for this moment. Others were simply confused. |
| “Surely there are medals we can give out for something as grand as this,” one Twitter user said. Another asked: “This amazing. Also, why?” | “Surely there are medals we can give out for something as grand as this,” one Twitter user said. Another asked: “This amazing. Also, why?” |
| Australians are no strangers to gigantic objects. Across the country, oversize landmarks — known as the “Big Things” — draw road trippers to country towns: the Big Banana, the Big Pineapple, the Big Lobster, to name a few. (One man even proposed a Big Wooden Bong.) | Australians are no strangers to gigantic objects. Across the country, oversize landmarks — known as the “Big Things” — draw road trippers to country towns: the Big Banana, the Big Pineapple, the Big Lobster, to name a few. (One man even proposed a Big Wooden Bong.) |
| The kookaburra was intended for an arts festival, the Townsville Cultural Fest, which Mr. Daliri helps organize as executive director of the city’s Intercultural Center. It’s just his latest whopping work. He has also made a 15-foot-tall koala, a 200-foot-long carpet snake and a 33-foot-long crocodile. | The kookaburra was intended for an arts festival, the Townsville Cultural Fest, which Mr. Daliri helps organize as executive director of the city’s Intercultural Center. It’s just his latest whopping work. He has also made a 15-foot-tall koala, a 200-foot-long carpet snake and a 33-foot-long crocodile. |
| “When something is big, it imposes itself on you,” he said. “It becomes undeniable.” | “When something is big, it imposes itself on you,” he said. “It becomes undeniable.” |
| Mr. Daliri began the kookaburra project during Christmas break, but its complexity stymied him. “I couldn’t finish it,” he said. | Mr. Daliri began the kookaburra project during Christmas break, but its complexity stymied him. “I couldn’t finish it,” he said. |
| When the lockdown began in March and he started working from home, he picked it back up. | When the lockdown began in March and he started working from home, he picked it back up. |
| The kookaburra’s body has a steel framework and includes fiberglass, steel mesh, bamboo, welding rods, ceramic — and some hot glue. A car battery powers the movable beak and the sound system. The sculpture is registered as a boat trailer. | The kookaburra’s body has a steel framework and includes fiberglass, steel mesh, bamboo, welding rods, ceramic — and some hot glue. A car battery powers the movable beak and the sound system. The sculpture is registered as a boat trailer. |
| His secret to getting projects done? “Don’t push yourself to be productive,” he said. “Just do what you can. Think about it in this moment — for the next few hours, what is possible?” | His secret to getting projects done? “Don’t push yourself to be productive,” he said. “Just do what you can. Think about it in this moment — for the next few hours, what is possible?” |
| Born in Iran, Mr. Daliri worked as an artist in India before moving to Australia in the 1980s. “My way of art is to worship what’s in front of me and appreciate with gratitude,” he said. | Born in Iran, Mr. Daliri worked as an artist in India before moving to Australia in the 1980s. “My way of art is to worship what’s in front of me and appreciate with gratitude,” he said. |
| He said he had noticed that people were growing depressed and anxious as the pandemic took hold. | He said he had noticed that people were growing depressed and anxious as the pandemic took hold. |
| “I think this is a time we need to reach out to each other,” he said. “We may not meet all the requirements of people’s material happiness, but spiritually we can make them happy.” The kookaburra’s laugh, he added, is so infectious that it encourages real birds to join in. | “I think this is a time we need to reach out to each other,” he said. “We may not meet all the requirements of people’s material happiness, but spiritually we can make them happy.” The kookaburra’s laugh, he added, is so infectious that it encourages real birds to join in. |
| [Sign up to get The Australia Letter, a weekly newsletter from our Australia bureau, delivered to your inbox.] | [Sign up to get The Australia Letter, a weekly newsletter from our Australia bureau, delivered to your inbox.] |
| Updated June 30, 2020 | |
| Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days. | |
| Scientists around the country have tried to identify everyday materials that do a good job of filtering microscopic particles. In recent tests, HEPA furnace filters scored high, as did vacuum cleaner bags, fabric similar to flannel pajamas and those of 600-count pillowcases. Other materials tested included layered coffee filters and scarves and bandannas. These scored lower, but still captured a small percentage of particles. | Scientists around the country have tried to identify everyday materials that do a good job of filtering microscopic particles. In recent tests, HEPA furnace filters scored high, as did vacuum cleaner bags, fabric similar to flannel pajamas and those of 600-count pillowcases. Other materials tested included layered coffee filters and scarves and bandannas. These scored lower, but still captured a small percentage of particles. |
| A commentary published this month on the website of the British Journal of Sports Medicine points out that covering your face during exercise “comes with issues of potential breathing restriction and discomfort” and requires “balancing benefits versus possible adverse events.” Masks do alter exercise, says Cedric X. Bryant, the president and chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit organization that funds exercise research and certifies fitness professionals. “In my personal experience,” he says, “heart rates are higher at the same relative intensity when you wear a mask.” Some people also could experience lightheadedness during familiar workouts while masked, says Len Kravitz, a professor of exercise science at the University of New Mexico. | A commentary published this month on the website of the British Journal of Sports Medicine points out that covering your face during exercise “comes with issues of potential breathing restriction and discomfort” and requires “balancing benefits versus possible adverse events.” Masks do alter exercise, says Cedric X. Bryant, the president and chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit organization that funds exercise research and certifies fitness professionals. “In my personal experience,” he says, “heart rates are higher at the same relative intensity when you wear a mask.” Some people also could experience lightheadedness during familiar workouts while masked, says Len Kravitz, a professor of exercise science at the University of New Mexico. |
| The steroid, dexamethasone, is the first treatment shown to reduce mortality in severely ill patients, according to scientists in Britain. The drug appears to reduce inflammation caused by the immune system, protecting the tissues. In the study, dexamethasone reduced deaths of patients on ventilators by one-third, and deaths of patients on oxygen by one-fifth. | The steroid, dexamethasone, is the first treatment shown to reduce mortality in severely ill patients, according to scientists in Britain. The drug appears to reduce inflammation caused by the immune system, protecting the tissues. In the study, dexamethasone reduced deaths of patients on ventilators by one-third, and deaths of patients on oxygen by one-fifth. |
| The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the virus. It gives qualified workers two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if they are caring for sick family members. It gives 12 weeks of paid leave to people caring for children whose schools are closed or whose child care provider is unavailable because of the coronavirus. It is the first time the United States has had widespread federally mandated paid leave, and includes people who don’t typically get such benefits, like part-time and gig economy workers. But the measure excludes at least half of private-sector workers, including those at the country’s largest employers, and gives small employers significant leeway to deny leave. | The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the virus. It gives qualified workers two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if they are caring for sick family members. It gives 12 weeks of paid leave to people caring for children whose schools are closed or whose child care provider is unavailable because of the coronavirus. It is the first time the United States has had widespread federally mandated paid leave, and includes people who don’t typically get such benefits, like part-time and gig economy workers. But the measure excludes at least half of private-sector workers, including those at the country’s largest employers, and gives small employers significant leeway to deny leave. |
| So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement. | So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement. |
| Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks. | Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks. |
| A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study. | A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study. |
| The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April. | The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April. |
| If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.) | If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.) |
| If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others. | If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others. |
| The sudden attention has stunned and delighted Mr. Daliri. Now, truck drivers yell out from their windows to tell him it’s exactly what they needed. Reporters from Europe call him wanting to find out more. | The sudden attention has stunned and delighted Mr. Daliri. Now, truck drivers yell out from their windows to tell him it’s exactly what they needed. Reporters from Europe call him wanting to find out more. |
| “I had no dream that this is going to strike such a chord with everyone,” he said. “This is hilarious.” | “I had no dream that this is going to strike such a chord with everyone,” he said. “This is hilarious.” |
| Mr. Daliri has already planned a tour with the kookaburra to small towns between Brisbane and Townsville. He is open to ideas about his next endeavor. | Mr. Daliri has already planned a tour with the kookaburra to small towns between Brisbane and Townsville. He is open to ideas about his next endeavor. |
| “You tell me what’s next. I’ll do that,” he said. “What is it that will cheer people up?” | “You tell me what’s next. I’ll do that,” he said. “What is it that will cheer people up?” |