Some changes, though, apparently better not last forever. Thirty-six percent of parents surveyed for Fidelity Investments' new "2020 College Savings Indicator Study" were disenchanted with the thought of paying full freight for virtual classes in the future, and said they'd consider choosing a less expensive, in-person school, if need be, to avoid that fate once their kids are ready for college.

Already, many schools are feeling some heat from parents and students for not lowering tuition this semester despite going all or partially remote. And while no one knows when the COVID-19 threat will end, clearly the pandemic college experience is getting a gentleman's C at best.

"The current college experience isn't exactly what parents envisioned when they began saving," said Melissa Ridolfi, Fidelity's vice president of retirement and college leadership. "That has many reconsidering where and how they use their college savings, although parents continue to recognize the value of a college education."

In fact, the national survey of 1,790 families with children aged 18 and younger who are expected to attend college showed that the overwhelming majority of respondents continue to believe that higher education is "worth its cost."

How they'll pay for it, though, is where the real angst - exacerbated by months of lockdowns -comes in:

* 71 percent of parents admit to worrying that coronavirus-related issues could threaten their ability to save.

* 9 percent plan to decrease their contributions this year for reasons that include being unemployed.

The study's most actionable finding for those feeling even a little angsty themselves?

Three words: 529 savings plans.

These are the tax-advantaged accounts that allow you to sock away money to cover tuition, books, and other expenses at most accredited two- and four-year colleges, universities and vocational-technical schools. And by "tax-advantaged," we mean the earnings accumulate tax-free and qualified withdrawals are exempt from federal income taxes.

Survey respondents who'd already established a 529 were 22 percentage points closer to achieving their savings goal than those who hadn't.

"Particularly in light of the financial stress facing families today, it's important for parents to know that these plans continue to become more flexible as it relates to what's included in the definition of 'qualified education expenses,'" Ridolfi said. "Apprenticeship costs, K-12 education, and student loan repayment up to $10,000 were all recently added."

Yes, everyone still has a way to go if they're to meet their target of self-funding 65 percent of their child's ever-more expensive future college education. Including tuition, room and board, and other assorted fees and expenses, according to the College Board, today you'd be talking annual averages of $53,980 for a private four-year college, $42,970 for an out-of-state public four-year college, and $26,590 for an in-state four-year college.

Multiply those numbers by four, and you can see why parents are currently only on track to fund 33 percent of their goal.

A free online tool from Fidelity can help in planning ahead by not only estimating how much it will run you based on whether you're contemplating a four-year college in the Midwest, say, but also showing how various tweaks can boost your savings. And if you are one of the 45 million Americans with student loan debt, its likewise free Student Loan Calculator can help you figure out whether there's a better way to pay it off.

Cooling towers often use local water sources for their evaporative cooling processes that may be untreated or poorly treated, and therefore contaminated. Bacteria and other contaminants not only escape into the air, but they also reduce the efficiency of the tower. To make matters worse, companies may add chemicals such as sulfur dioxide and chlorine to the water in order to soften the minerals and kill bacteria. However, some of these chemicals, as well as the bacteria, find their way into the air.

In particular, these cooling towers can serve as superspreaders for the potentially deadly Legionella bacteria.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 84 percent of cooling towers in the United States have tested positive for Legionella bacteria, and Legionnaires' disease cases have nearly quadrupled between 2000 and 2015.

The answer to reducing this deadly disease may lie in a novel, chemical-free technology, the Plasma Disinfection System (PDS), from Reverse Ionizer, LLC, which uses high-temperature plasma streamers, ultraviolet rays, and ozone to reduce the impact of air- and water-borne bacteria and viruses that can spread in public spaces through the cooling towers.

"For decades, people have unknowingly been walking through what is called 'cooling tower drift,' which is mostly an unseen street-level cloud of chemicals, bacteria and other potentially harmful water vapor," says Reverse Ionizer CEO Patrick Hughes.

"The PDS discovery will transform how to manage and operate buildings throughout the globe by providing a continuous treatment that has never been applied to water systems and help mitigate risk of building owners," he explains. "It couldn't come at a better time, as the novel coronavirus has put a spotlight on the water and air people breathe in public spaces," he adds.

Reverse Ionizer's patented, chemical-free technology not only helps control bacteria with an environmentally-friendly PDS system, it also helps companies save money and improve air quality by improving the efficiency of cooling towers.

The Electro-Magnetic Solution uses radio frequency to constantly soften scale buildup in cooling towers, which helps companies cut costs by reducing the need for expensive chemical additives.

Visit reverseionizer.com for more information about how Reverse Ionizer's green technology is positioned to continue improving air quality, and for sales and investment opportunities.

Beginning on January 1, 2021, you can stream every episode of The Office only on Peacock, NBCUniversal's streaming service. Whether you have watched the series ten times through, or have never seen a single episode, Peacock has every fan covered. Peacock provides a variety of ways to relive The Office's best pranks, romances, quotes and more.

Binge through every milestone in Jim and Pam's relationship and listen to Michael Scott utter the words "that's what she said" more times than you can count in the original series or enjoy these moments and more with The Office: Superfan Episodes that include never-before-seen footage and deleted scenes in extended cuts. See a sample of an extended cut clip from season 3 of The Office here.

Looking for more? Peacock offers fans behind-the-scenes content, including bloopers, featurettes, and interviews, as well as special curated, themed episode collections, clip playlists, and a 24/7 channel of ambient noise devoted to the sights and sounds of an office.

Just like the soft pretzels on Stanley's favorite day of the year, Pretzel Day, the first two seasons of The Office are completely free to enjoy. The remaining episodes from seasons 3-9 and The Office: Superfan Episodes are available for Peacock Premium subscribers. In February, Spanish-language streaming options will become available for the first time, too.

ENJOY COMEDY CLASSICS AND MORE ON PEACOCK

The Office joins Peacock's library of comedy classics and current hits from NBCUniversal and beyond, including Parks and Recreation, 30 Rock, Saturday Night Live, Cheers, Everybody Loves Raymond, George Lopez, The King of Queens, The Amber Ruffin Show, Saved by the Bell, and much more.

Peacock brings together everything people love about TV and streaming to deliver the best live and on-demand programming from NBCUniversal and beyond. Sign up for Peacock today -- completely free -- and enjoy thousands of hours of current and classic movies and shows, exclusive channels, timely news and sports, late-night, reality, and more. Or upgrade to Peacock Premium for just $4.99 per month and enjoy access to thousands of hours of movies, shows, originals, live news, and sports. You can also go ad-free for just $5 more per month.

HOW TO WATCH

Xfinity X1 and Xfinity Flex customers enjoy access to Peacock Premium, including all episodes of The Office, at no extra cost. X1 and Flex customers can also unlock an exclusive The Office surprise by repeating famous quotes from the iconic series into the Xfinity Voice Remote such as "Dunder Mifflin," "Bob Vance," "I'm not superstitious," and "Fool me once, strike one" to hear audio Easter eggs from Michael and the gang.

Peacock is available nationwide on the Roku platform; Apple devices, including iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV 4K, and Apple TV HD; Google platforms and devices, including Android, Android TV devices, Chromecast, and Chromecast built-in devices; Microsoft's Xbox One family of devices, including Xbox One S and Xbox One X; Sony PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 4 Pro; and VIZIO SmartCast TVs and LG Smart TVs. In addition to Comcast's Xfinity X1 and Flex customers, Cox Contour customers enjoy Peacock Premium with their service at no additional cost.

Visit Peacocktv.com to learn more.

The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) is a non-profit trade group for the kitchen and bath industry.

The series opens with Jim Nowakowski, a marketing and marketing communications specialist with more than 20 years of experience, notably in the manufacturing and publishing industries. Mr. Nowakowski brings his considerable expertise in communications and business-to-business advertising purchasing patterns to the webinars. The series kicked off on January 10 with "Staying in Front of Your Customers in a Digital Environment."

Positive feedback from attendees emphasized Mr. Nowakowski's enthusiasm and business acumen, with comments about his material and delivery such as, "his examples were detailed and easy to understand, with stories that made a point," and "he was the best presenter I have seen in a while, very engaging and entertaining."

"It's always an honor to present my business topics to designers, showroom consultants, architects and manufacturers," Nowakowski said after the presentation.

"When I received the feedback, I was thrilled that the audience walked away with knowledge they can use," he adds.

The webinar focuses on providing the audience with information on digital disruption in the marketplace and what strategic tools can keep a business relevant and valuable in servicing customers.

For example, participants learn how value comes from differentiation, and the importance of what makes a business unique.

"What do you do that your competitor doesn't do? What does your competitor do that you don't?" Mr. Nowakowski asks.

Mr. Nowakowski also emphasizes how business basics never change, even in the age of disruption, and reviews tactics on how to stay in front of customers in a digital environment that includes using advertising, phone surveys, and quality service.

The full presentation of Staying in Front of Your Customers in Digital Environment is available http://intrln.com/front.

Visit www.interlinegroup.com for more information and additional webinars offered.

Going out with friends, hugging a grandparent, even opening a door in a public place are on hold. Some of these changes were temporary. However, even as states begin to open up, changes in how we interact with each other and the world will likely continue for far longer.

"We need to grieve the ways of life we have lost," according to William Glover, Ph.D., president of the American Psychoanalytic Association (APsaA).

"Mourning is hard work," Sigmund Freud once wrote in his essay, "Mourning and Melancholia." What makes mourning so hard is having to give up attachments - whether to people or to a way of life - that can't be replaced. Letting go of what we have lost helps us move on with our lives, although we will always miss the people, places, and things we have lost; in that sense mourning can never be complete.

Mourning and grief are an important part of coping with loss and essential in managing changes and accepting new realities. Recognizing that our pre-COVID lives may never return is a loss to be mourned, and the work involved in this mourning can help us move on and into the new reality. However, some people struggle with the process more than others, and resist by responding with illusions of control, refusing to take precautions, and showing contempt for politicians and public health officials who try to explain the changing realities of daily life.

In an article post on APsaA's Psychology Today blogsite, psychotherapist Shelley Galasso Bonanno, MA, LLP, writes, "Each person processes and expresses grief in their own individual ways, yet there is comfort and power in understanding that one is not alone during this pandemic." One way to cope with grief is by finding meaning in the present situation, although how one does so may be different for everyone.

Yet finding meaning is different for everyone. For some, it may mean providing food or assistance to a homebound neighbor, making masks for members of their community, or even donating money to help beloved organizations and venues stay afloat. Others may find meaning by expressing their emotions and reflecting on them with a therapist.

Undoubtedly, there will be new ways to maintain relationships, enjoy life, and participate in activities with family and friends. Meanwhile, being able to tolerate the pain of grief and find meaning helps sustain us in difficult times.

The American Psychoanalytic Association has created a resource page for the public and mental health providers with resources to help cope with anxiety and grief during this global pandemic.

Visit apsa.org/coronavirus for articles and videos and information on how to find a psychotherapist near you.

One might interpret those words as a plea to humanity to keep cool and ride the course of these unprecedented times - this too shall pass.

Not Paul Willette. An MD for 26 years, he has now authored "GPS: Global Pandemic Solutions: Directions for a Healthier Immunity against Coronavirus, " which advances the "10th opinion" theory that we've got it all wrong.

"Shutting down businesses and economies worldwide, overvaluing the importance of vaccines and ventilators, and increased testing for the virus in healthy people are fundamentally wrong," claims Willette.

"In fact, there is little proof they accomplished anything. In some instances, they made things worse. For example, the highest SARS-CoV-2 positive testing rate came from the stay-at-home self-quarantining group."

"Do we have a pandemic?" asks Willette. "You cannot test for a virus without distinguishing between colonization versus infection (disease). Pandemics are spread of disease between one person and another within a population. Increased viral testing is not a pandemic."

Current testing, argues Willette, only identifies the presence or absence of the Coronavirus, but the premise that a positive test for Coronavirus represents infection is flawed. Willette believes a case of the Coronavirus should be "counted" only when the virus has multiplied in sufficient quantities to cause severe sickness. Furthermore, correlation of positive Coronavirus testing is not causation of Covid-19 death.

Willette's company, Global Health Science Solutions LLC, has been over 30 years in the making. The starting point is medical school, residency and fellowship training. But what makes it different, according to Willette, is the pursuit of solutions incorporating nutrition, biochemistry and cell biology. Visit baisavhealth.com.

While much of Willette's narrative is quashing commonly accepted beliefs about the Coronavirus, he also provides a list of solutions and recommendations for healthy living. Willette says a broader understanding of all living things provides insight into the Coronavirus and the importance of maintaining a healthy immune system. His book delivers great insights into this understanding, including solutions that answer questions such as: why do bats harbor deadly viruses, yet do not die from them? Willette argues the early intervention of steroids (such as Decadron) helps prevent damage to normal tissues, i.e. lung, as the initial general inflammatory response is blunted (similar to bats) until the adaptive immune system specifically targets just the virus.

"GPS: Global Pandemic Solutions: Directions for a Healthier Immunity Against the Coronavirus" is the beginning of a discussion not just about stamping out disease, but about redefining and improving health in order to move forward for a better future.

To learn more and purchase, go to http://baisavhealth.com.

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