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2020-09-07
This Tweet explains what is really happening with virtual school. While teachers are having to work harder than ever to convert all of their lessons into something that has a chance of working online, parents, and mostly mothers are expected to be available at a moments notice to aid in technology and learning.
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2020-06-27
This is important to me because I feel like the genuine facts of the riots are looked over by Republicans and Democrats alike to sustain their respective narratives. My personal experience with this situation was first hearing the story of George Floyd and his tragic unnecessary Murder. That day I was glued to the news reading story after story. Then, right before I went to bed, I say this image above in video form and didn’t believe what I saw. People were running around in panic while others looted and set fire to buildings whether big construction sites or small businesses. Fear was induced in the people of Minneapolis as well as for me that the same thing would start occurring across the US, which it did. I also feared that fires and looting would begin to occur near my house in downtown Annapolis, but thankfully the only thing that occurred were peaceful protest which were very much so necessary.
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2020-06-02
This article discusses the mixed ideas surrounding the wearing of masks. Some people see it as a show of “scientific authority” and respect for the safety of others, but another portion of the public thinks it is a sign of weakness, submission, and cowardice. Masks in America are an extremely political point of conflict. And although the majority of people protesting against the killing of George Floyd wore masks to protect their community from transmission of the virus, the rest of the nation is still in turmoil over the issue. I have experienced my own difficulty with this as well; we have had to avoid unmasked neighbors several times, and when relatives come, we have to be the enforcers of distancing when they visit and remain outside. Mask wearing should not be politicized; it should just be something everyone wears with the safety and health of themselves and others in mind.
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2020-09-07
This curriculum was designed for a junior level US History course. Students are asked to identify core American values and to formulate a claim in response to the essential question, "Is America currently living up to its core values?" The curriculum and student essays are being submitted to the JOTPY archive to provide a picture of how teenagers view America as a whole in 2020. They also give insight into the vast array of perspectives teenagers living during the COVID-19 pandemic have based on the diversity of their current life experiences.
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2020-09-06
A friend that lives in San Francisco posted this video on his Instagram stories. It is a video of Crissy Field, the park and beach area near Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. It is a spot beloved by locals because of the open space and picturesque backdrop of the Bridge. The San Francisco Bay Area is experiencing an intense heat wave over Labor Day weekend. The heat, and the smoke from surrounding wildfires, has pushed residents from around the Bay Area to locations with cooler climates and cleaner air. While a number of local beaches are closed, it appears as if Crissy Field was not one of them. This video captures the crowds of people that flocked to Crissy Field over the Labor Day weekend.
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2020-09-06
In 2020 I was extremely excited to see VP candidate Kamala Harris on the ballot. It was revitalizing to see that in 2020 while all the protest were occurring, racial disparities were brought to light, and the urging to pass social reform in our major cities. When Kamala went on an interview to discuss her early life this picture came across the screen. My mom had an identical pose and hair style she wore as a teenager. This was the first time it really hit home that I could possibly have someone who looks like my mom and other black mothers that looked like mine. That as an African American we had the opportunity to see someone like us hold such a high office was very impactful and motivated me.
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2020-05-13
MJBW shifted to regular online events that are now occurring on the second Tuesday of each Month
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2020-03-18
MJBW email newsletters announcing cancellation of 2020 Festival
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2020-03-18
Melbourne Jewish Book Week was raring to go with its 2020 Festival, scheduled for 2-7 May.
International and local writers were booked – more than 80 in total. Almost two years in the planning, the festival was going to include two full days of panels and workshops; opening and closing night galas; a performance at fortyfivedownstairs; a literary brunch with two leading writers from New York; and a keynote address.
As coronavirus spread, and governments started imposing restrictions, including the closure of borders, we held several meetings and on 12 March we decided that a live festival was not in the interests of our supporters – and we pulled the plug, with tears and heartache. We were one of the first festivals to do so, but in the days and weeks that followed, no-one had any other option.
We felt an obligation to our supporters, sponsors and writers to provide an alternative. We opted for regular on-line events using available technology, and decided not to commit to a live event until the heath risks were well and truly passed.
Six months later, we are delighted and proud of what we have achieved in the CoVid world. Starting with no knowledge of the technology, we are now familiar with all aspects of Zoom. We have established the second Tuesday of the month as Melbourne Jewish Book Week evening.
Our offerings (to March 2021) have been:
• May 2020 Philippe Sands and Mark Baker
• June 2020 David Isaacs and Elizabeth Finkel
• June 2020 (extra) Colum McCann and Mark Baker
• July 2020 Ben Lewi and Jan Epstein
• August 2020 Juliet Rieden and Bram Presser
• September 2020 Paul Valent and Rachel Kohn
• October 2020 Shais Rishon (MaNishtana) and Claire Coleman – moderated by Isabelle Oderberg.
• November 2020 Summer Reading Guide with Tali Lavi, Elissa Goldstein and Bram Presser
• February 2020 Arnold Zable and Tali Levi
• March 2020 Open mic
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2020-08-16
News article from EL Comercio that fact checks the statemet from Arequipa's governor: “El consumo de alpaca y llama combate el coronavirus. Está comprobado científicamente que combate al COVID-19”. A number of different solutions have been proposed to combat COVID in Peru, but the idea of eating llama meat is one of the strangest.
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2020-08-16
Carne de llama y dióxido de cloro es la receta sin sustento científico para combatir la COVID-19 del polémico gobernador de Arequipa (Perú), Elmer Cáceres, que ahora pide obtener la vacuna rusa después de que el gobierno peruano lo haya despojado de sus competencias en la administración de la salud.
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2020-08-12
El gobernador regional de Arequipa, Elmer Cáceres, volvió a hacer de las suyas. Cuando días atrás se mostraba favorable al uso del hidróxico de cloro para combatir al Covid-19, ahora afirma que el consumo de carne de alpaca y llama es efectivo para hacerle la contra a la enfermedad.
«El consumo de alpaca y llama combate el coronavirus. Ojo. La llama, ¡hay que consumir carne de llama!, está comprobado científicamente que combate al Covid-19 que está matando a nuestra gente. Yo invito al pueblo de Arequipa y del Perú a consumir carne de llama, que es brillisimo», manifestó en una actividad pública.
Cáceres Llica dictó esta exhortación a diversos ciudadanos de su región.
Por otro lado, también dijo sostener comunicación directa con Rusia para importar, lo más pronto posible, la vacuna en este país desarrollada, a la región Arequipa.
Todo lo que indica el gobernador es de su propio criterio si bases científicas luego dijieron que lo que dice de la carne es completamente falso.
Fuerte : Orcopampa al día
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2020-08-18
Cáceres Llica es el gobernador de Arequipa. Últimamente ha dicho o hecho cosas extrañas como escribió una carta a Putin pidiendo que le manda unas vacunas, y hablaba temas populistas como decir que comer carne de llama te puede proteger de COVID. El dibujo implica que escuchar a este político es ignorante como curar el COVID con lejía.
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2020-09-03
I know I’m not the only mom hurting right now. Many moms across the world in this period of uncertainty are hurting. We’re hammered with issues. Not being able to leave our homes the way we want to. Not being able to see our friends. The fear of sending our kids to school. Deciding if we should take a vacation to bring some normalcy back into our children’s lives. To improve our mental health. Financial stress. Stress about when this pandemic will end. Taking care of our children 24/7 without a break for the last five months. Caring for kids and working at the same time. Supervising our kids’ virtual lessons. Increasing anxiety and depression. The list goes on. This pandemic has brought so many moms to their knees. I see you hurting, exhausted, anxious moms. I see you running on empty. I see the toll that it has taken on our children and on our families. I want to offer some advice that I know I would appreciate getting. Next time you see a mother and want to offer support in a way that won’t kick her while she’s already down, rather than tell her to find a silver lining in this chaos that we are living in, simply respond with “I am here for you. We will get through this together. I know it’s hard.”
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2020-08-06
We had been counting down this day for over a year. My oldest daughter could not wait to start kindergarten. The full impact of Covid had not hit me until her first day of school. It was nothing like I thought it would be. I snapped this picture of us (myself, my kindergartener, her little sister, and her dad) walking to the front of the school. There was no walking her to class to meet her teacher, no in class-pictures, no watching her take a seat at her desk. Instead, we walked her over with our masks on, waited while she got her temperature taken, and then watched her be escorted to her classroom since we were not allowed in class. A week after this photo was taken, her school decided it was best to do 100% remote learning. Since she is only five, she cannot understand the severity of Covid and has a hard time understanding why she can't be in class with her friends.
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2020-08-25
When her son returned to virtual learning last week, Jana Coombs saw him struggling. Her 5-year-old, a kindergartener at a school in Coweta County, Georgia, was so frustrated with the remote back-to-school experience that he put his head down and cried. Jana Coombs story is not unique; it’s the same story experienced by thousands of mothers who now find themselves running back and forth to their children’s computers trying to make sense of remote learning. This article is an accurate glimpse into the home of every mother with a school aged child and how their lives have been affected by Covid.
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2020-09-02
Humor has become so important to our everyday lives. If the mainstream media were to be believed, it would be all doom and gloom. Sometimes, a laugh is just what the doctor ordered. Wearing a mask as one goes about their daily routine is a new concept for many, especially children, who might not really understand the reasons why and might be afraid. This particular photo of a German Shepherd demonstrating the proper way to wear a mask is both funny and helps make wearing a mask seem not so scary for children.
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2020-09-03
Given the atmosphere of the year 2020 overall, it can be easy to sometimes forget that law enforcement officers are human too and they are facing the same dangers related to Covid-19 as the general public. Everyday, law enforcement officers around the world, put on their uniform for the day and head to work to protect and serve their communities, knowing that this unseen danger lurks around every corner and every call for service they go to. Their voices are often the ones that go unnoticed and unremarked so seeing an article that shines even the faintest light on the struggles they face, this year in particular, is worthy of note.
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2020-09-04
This article was published by National Geographic and made public by them to help spread awareness of the current state of the Coronavirus epidemic. This article is important because often information is gained second or third hand from someone who heard from someone who heard from someone else and by the time the information gets to you, the actual info is lost. National Geographic has long been known as a reputable source of information and so the information from them can usually be counted on to be accurate. Having an accurate source of information can help ease anxiety people may have simply from 'not knowing.' This article stated that, in the US, cases have been steady but with the cooler temperatures coming, may rise again as more people are spending their time primarily indoors. This article serves as a good snapshot of the current state of things in the coronavirus universe in September 2020.
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2020-03-24T10:48
This is a photograph of the Washington Monument when the cherry blossom festival usually takes place. It was taken when my family and I drove out to see the cherry blossoms, but when we arrived in DC, the roads were blockaded so that no one would be gathering around the cherry blossoms in large groups. If you zoom in closely, you can see cherry blossoms in the background, and that there are no people and hardly any cars. This photo of the monument taken when the Cherry Blossom Festival was supposed to happen is a testament to one the sweeping effects of the pandemic; the shutting down of events that used to happen every single year before. The photo itself is important to me because every year I go and see the cherry blossoms with my family and walk around the tidal basin. Looking at this photo I will always remember how empty DC was and how sad the sight of the solitary Cherry Blossoms was without people walking around to celebrate their bloom.
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1918-09-17
My flu files project is about this article from the Boston Globe, published on September 17th, 1918, nearly 102 years ago and just as the Spanish Flu was starting to become a serious issue in the United States. While the disease was yet to wreak the havoc that would eventually ensue, the seriousness of the flu was already well known, especially around military installations where it originated and often spread.
The author’s choice to open with the disclosure of the barber at the base being infected is actually quite clever, because it shows that not only is the flu spreading rapidly, but that people in specific positions being infected is exponentially more dangerous as they will be exposed to more people (and in the case of a barber be quite close to them) giving them more opportunities to spread the flu.
It is very apparent how the article tries to prevent panic by slightly underselling the seriousness of the pandemic, stating nonchalantly that “It was made known today that there are more than 3000 cases of Spanish Influenza at the base hospital now”. 3000 cases at a single military base is absolutely devastating but the article attempts to soften it in the next sentence by stating that “not all cases are serious” and “there is room at the hospital for 1500 more cases”. Even if that is true it is clear that the situation was already far from under control and obviously did not get much better from there.
The article describes how the base has had to put a soft quarantine on the hospital and has repurposed an additional 12 wards of the hospital just for dealing with the flu. The section finally ends optimistically, stating that the flu has likely reached its zenith at the base. These attempts to distract or under exaggerate numbers of pandemics to prevent mass hysteria are unfortunately quite familiar to anyone who has been following more recent events, and in both cases many of them have been proven wrong.
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2020-04-08
A family in Walnut Creek is using their garage door to send various messages during the COVID-19 pandemic. This message reads "Thank You Essential Workers." The art has been a source of community, inspiration and hope for Walnut Creek residents.
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2020-09-04
Guidelines
*Historical analysis of a newspaper article
*New York Times article
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2020-09-01
A wonderful group of students from my first year of teaching (2011-12) has stayed in touch since they graduated in 2015. They have an annual tradition of coming back to the Bay Area at least once per year and spending the day in San Francisco. They take a photograph in front of the Golden Gate Bridge - even if it is completely covered in fog - to mark their time together. The COVID-19 pandemic made their tradition impossible this year. They still decided to mark the year by creating this "Greeting from...San Francisco" postcard style photoshopped image. It is such a sign of the times! I am grateful that the group is finding a way to stay connected during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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2020-06-15
I graduated with my Masters during the pandemic. School was changed as we finished the semester online due to the quaruntine. Then all celebrations were canceled. Things were virtual. I found out I got a job that would bring me from AZ to MA and I would have to move before things got back to normal. I started a job remotely, and took graduation photos alone, without the pomp and circumstance. Then I had a social distanced party outside to celebrate both. Only a 10 people came to be safe, even though more were invited. Many did not feel comfortable to attend. It was what it was but definielty not the big party I had hoped for.
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2020-04-13
This year I turned 25, a quarter of a century. I definietly did not expect to celebrate as I did, but nonetheless this birthday in 2020 was one to remember. I through myself a party and luckily my mom and brother came to town to visit. We made dinner, I made my own cake, and we took pictures to celebrate, including some covid satire. I also got news on my 25th birthday that I landed my dream job and would have to move across the country during a pandemic, without many proper goodbyes. Bittersweet, but a birthday I will always cherish.
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2020-08-31
Note the overflowing mask bowl next to the car keys and hand sanitizer. This illustrates the new protocol for leaving the house, which now means grabbing a mask as well as your phone and car keys. To me, this speaks volumes about the way the pandemic has affected daily life and our routines and what we consider “normal” to be
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2020-04-25
All it took was one passenger who disembarked a week before others began to fall ill, to quarantine all passengers and crew on the Diamond Princess by February 4th. Given the dire nature of these outbreaks, many have asked – did the cruise companies act too late? This Washington Post article outlines the experiences of the Celebrity Eclipse and Coral Princess, where before passengers could disembark, the two ships reported 150 Covid-19 cases and six deaths in April. At the time the article was written, the cruise industry reported outbreaks on 55 ships in waters across the globe and 65 deaths among passengers and crew. The article alleges that the industry failed to recognize the signs and symptoms of Covid-19, which later were confirmed as positive cases. Further concerning allegations from the article claim that cruise ships brought Covid-19 to ports and cities around the globe that were otherwise virus-free, where many places lacked the infrastructure to handle large-scale outbreaks.
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2020-08-07
Cruise ships are bustling cities. Lido decks are a din of conversation over food, and while most cruise ships suspended buffets years ago, passengers still share access to, among others, refillable water stations, cookie baskets, and salt and pepper shakers. Tables are close together and guests stand closely in line. While hand sanitizer stations are dotted throughout common areas, cruise ships with so many people in such close quarters, are difficult places to prevent the spread of aerosol, airborne virus’ like Covid-19. Now that cruise ships, and world health organizations, have had time to assess the risk they are developing new protocols to help making cruising possible again when it is safe to do so. The United States’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention developed the Vessel Sanitation Program, which is now shifting to include Covid-19 health protocols. Ships receive a surprise inspection from the CDC where they evaluate the following areas: medial facilities, potable water systems, swimming pools and whirlpool spas, galleys and dining rooms, child activity centers, hotel accommodations, ventilation systems, and common areas of the ship. At The Points Guy blog, they outline how the program works and how future cruisers can use the CDC data to inform the health and safety of their future vacation.
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2020-04-03
The cruise industry is a tight-knit group, where it seems like everyone knows everyone else. The Covid-19 pandemic blindsided the industry, which was unprepared for how quickly Covid-19 would spread across the globe and amongst ships. Covid-19 stressed all health and sanitation protocols the industry at large had in place. This lead to some dire circumstances and a humanitarian crisis with Covid-19 outbreaks aboard cruise ships adrift at sea where they were denied port entry in numerous countries around the world. The following article is an appeal for help written early on in the crisis by Suzanne Westover, wife of Holland America Line’s Staff Captain Craig Ravesloot. Herself a former crew member, Suzanne uses her platform to remind the world that the onboard crew was working round the clock to protect the health and wellbeing of passengers. Her friends and colleagues at sea needed help, the situation was dire, what would we do if in the same position?
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2020-08-11
This photo shows how we can still go out and do things during this pandemic. It shows that even though we have this worldwide epidemic, we can still enjoy ourselves while being safe. This is important to me because I think it is important to enjoy nature and the little things like this.
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2020-05-27
In this world there are many things we cannot predict. For instance, we could not predict the effect COVID-19 would have on us and our everyday lives. In this unfortunate situation it is important to understand perspective. If we were able to travel back in time and show someone a picture of a masked and fully sanitized person shopping, they would think you were crazy. Along those same lines, if you were to show someone the app TikTok six months ago they may not even know what it was or what you were talking about, and if they did, they surely weren’t using it every day.
When I first downloaded the app TikTok back in February before COVID-19 hit, I didn’t realize how popular it would soon become. I was mildly curious and wanted to check it out for a few minutes. Soon after, I was hooked, and it became a more prominent source of entertainment for me and millions of other people. I recognize that TikTok also has many drawbacks, including misinformation, negative suggestions, security issues and more. But for this purpose, I am focusing on TikTok as entertainment in this pandemic crisis only. Today, TikTok is used by millions of people and is still growing. The very week my sister came home from college early because of COVID, we made a TikTok together about how our mom makes us take a walk around the block for fun---a sign of the times when literally all we could do was walk “around the block.” In a time of uncertainty, it felt good to do something lighthearted.
I have noticed that there are many different takes on this app. People love it, and people hate it. I may have started out seeing TikTok as just another social media app, or even a waste of time, but due to the pandemic, I now see it in a new light. In some ways, it is a way for people to express their creativity, to try new things, and inspire others when personal interaction is limited. It is a reminder that you are not alone in this time of hurt and crisis—what better way to relax over the pandemic than making these fun videos and seeing so many other people doing the same. In addition, emotions are high during the pandemic as it sometimes seems it will never end, that everything is out of your control, and there is a lot of repetition. It almost seems like we are in the movie “Groundhog Day.” TikTok is the perfect way to funnel those emotions everyone has been feeling and at minimum provides a lighthearted break from the world. As I open the app, I am instantly engulfed in uplifting and positive videos, comedy videos that truly make me laugh, and a feeling of empathy towards others that reassures me that I am not the only one living through this event that is changing history. Furthermore, one of the most important parts of being socially distanced and quarantined is communication. It is easy to lose communication with friends and distant family members during a pandemic, yet one of the things TikTok offers about this pandemic is ironically connection, just not in person. This app provides a means of communication that no other app possesses and a sense of community, even if it is an odd one.
This article and Tiktok itself are important to me because they show that TikTok and other social media platforms can truly bring people of all ages together in ways that surprised me. This includes not just young kids, but all generations of people as well as whole families. Social media has always been around and growing, and every generation has its phase, whether it’s MySpace, Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp, or Tiktok. However, what truly makes this app important to me is its ability to show a lighthearted and fun side of a world facing not-so-lighthearted issues for all generations. I don’t know what will happen to it in the days or weeks ahead, but TikTok has definitely left its mark on society during this time.
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2020-03-31
This comic shows how much of an impact the coronavirus had on grocery stores and shoppers. It also shows how people could have overreacted to the fact that they can't find toilet paper or foods like spaghetti sauce. The main focus of this comic though is the doctor who is looking at the other row of shelves. The shelves are labeled, "face masks," "test kits," and "ventilators." This shows how not only food was a shortage, but also very important medical supplies that were needed to keep people alive. This is important to me because it shows the different struggles between everyday necessities, and what people need to stay alive.
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2020-03-12
This story was the first impact Covid-19 had on me back when the pandemic first began to
spread in the U.S. The article explains the cancellation of March Madness, the NCAA basketball
tournament that millions of fans tune into every year, my family being one of them. This event
brought the country together in a way, but was being canceled because of a global pandemic.
This cancelation shocked the country and created a necessary shut down of all other sports.
Sports create a sense of community in this country and around the world, but this virus took all
of these exciting events away from the viewers, creating a gap in the lives of many around the world.
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2020-09-03
This meme is bringing light and making fun of the price inflation of relatively cheap common items. Once the pandemic officially made its way into America, there has been a shortage of items such as Hand Sanitizer, Masks, Toilet Paper, and other common essentials. This has led to the price inflation in these goods. At one point during the Pandemic, I found a pack of six Purell Hand Sanitizers going for more then 80 dollars.
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2020-06-02
The coronavirus and the Black Lives Matter movement are two of the most important things in the US right now. This photo represents both of those things and it's important to me because I'm a young black kid who wants to live safely in a community where I feel comfortable. I, just like many others, have learned a lot about the history of injustice in America towards black people.
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2020-06-13T06:06:06
Workers from the food bank of lower Fairfield County in Connecticut took this picture
This is a photo that I found on CNN of one of the shelves in a food bank. The amount of people that are relying on food banks has drastically changed since the begging of the pandemic to now. From the pandemic, Feeding America predicts that an estimated 1 in every 6 Americans may face hunger due to the conditions. This photo made me think how fortunate my family and I are and how lucky we are that we don’t have to be concerned with where our next meal is coming from. I think that this Is an important photo because it shows how many people are in need of food and are unable to support themselves. since more people are out of jobs because of not being able to come in contact with other people has affected the income of many and the amount they can spend on food.
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2020-04-20
In late March in the height of quarantine my mom saw a breed of dog that she really liked, a mix of an English sheepdog and a poodle. So, 5 weeks later, we headed into the heart of Appalachia to retrieve our puppy, Annie. Now, while this is a generic story of a family getting a dog, the only reason we went ahead with this was because everyone in the family had significantly more free time on our hands, as a direct result of the pandemic. Her arrival caused a shift in everyones daily schedules, and shows an impact of the virus. This is important to me because it is my new dog.
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2020-05-13
2. This news article, although short and not very informative, is important to my experience with the coronavirus because it was when I had first learned that schools had started to close. My mother had sent it to me about when as the news had just come out. This was a big moment and a turning point for lots of people because although we had heard lots about the coronavirus and had seen the numbers and read the articles, this would be the first time it would affect us directly. The pandemic, at this time, had finally started to feel real and it had dawned upon me, and likely many others, that this would be something that would really impact me and my life, and it was no longer just something you heard or talked about. This, to me, shows how quickly the pandemic grew and took people by surprise. It also reminds me of times when people would claim that the coronavirus was being exaggerated by the media, or when others would guess that the virus would be gone before summer, because this was the moment that disproved those theories to me.
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2020-07-27
As a Grandma in rural Wisconsin, I spend hours each week in my garden. After a particularly grueling day, these thoughts came... about weeds, Covid, politics and their relationships. I don’t know how to upload, so am just going to put my poem into the next box.
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2020-05-10
In the months before social distancing due to COVID-19 started in California, my friend and I had been watching our way together through the series Call the Midwife on Netflix. She'd usually come over to my apartment once or twice a week and we'd watch a couple of episodes together. Once COVID-19 became an issue, this was no longer an option, but we still wanted to continue watching Call the Midwife together. Fortunately, we discovered that we could use Netflix Party to watch the show simultaneously on our laptops in our separate homes. Netflix Party also provided a chat box so that we could easily maintain a conversation about the show as we watched. So now, when we want to watch Call the Midwife, I get on my Netflix account, create a link through Netflix Party, text my friend the link, and there we go! As much as I miss being able to watch with my friend in the room with me, it's nice to be able to watch from wherever I want. Like from my bed with my cat rolling around!
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2020-04-05
Back at the beginning of April, when the CDC had just finally recommended that the general public wear masks when going out, I was eager to follow this guideline to the best of my abilities. Unfortunately, I didn't have any masks nor any good way of purchasing masks. (Online orders of anything were taking very long at that point in time, and masks weren't readily available in most stores not that I could get to one anyway.) So, I decided to try to make myself a mask. I wanted to make a really good mask. I did lots of research to find out what the best mask materials were for blocking the virus and everything. I searched my home, looking through my clothing, my towels, my reusable bags, trying to find the "right" material. I wasn't satisfied by anything I found. Given that, I decided that my best option was a relatively thick hand towel. I found a template online and proceeded to spend a couple hours hand sewing the mask that you see on my face in the picture. (I have very little experience hand sewing, so I didn't do a very neat job at all.) The final product was this huge mask that covered the entire lower half of my face. I mean, it worked, but it looked pretty hilarious. I did wear this mask out a number of times. It was basically my only option until I was able to order some better masks off the internet. I'm glad I don't have to wear that ridiculous homemade mask anymore, but I'm actually pretty impressed that I managed to make one at all.
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2020-09-02
As California moved from the "watch list" system to a "color-coded tiered" system, San Francisco Bay Area businesses are still navigating re-opening plans. Only 2 counties in the Bay Area are currently in the "red" zone which allows for some non-essential businesses to re-open. All others are currently in the "purple" zone. While the time frame and requirements to re-open continue to create confusion across the region, San Francisco hair saloons were able to operate outdoors for the first time since March shelter-in-place orders. Aside from the important re-opening information in this article, the image of hair stylists operating outside of their establishment in San Francisco, with Pride flags displayed proudly in the salon's windows, caught my attention. While life as we knew it has completely changed in the San Francisco Bay Area, this image feels very "San Francisco" to me. I am curious what aspects of the COVID-19 world will stick with us long after the pandemic is over. Will some businesses, like hair salons, continue to offer outdoor services?
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2020-09-02
2 nights. 8 hours. 2 school board meetings. Wow. Nampa School district decided early in August to push their start date back to 8/24/2020 to allow for extra planning time and to start the year entirely online. Included with this decision was the responsibility for the board to reevaluate this every two weeks. Well, this week we hit that mark. There have been many rumblings regarding what was to come in the decision. The biggest community push seems to come from parents who want their students involved in athletics. As of last Friday, 8/28/2020, one of our local hospitals was reporting 17/18 bed occupancy in their ICU unit due to Covid. The situation in Idaho is not stellar. Tongiht, at our board meeting, 2 trustees fought and fought for schools to reopen and athletics to continue. However, our superintendent held strong. She continually cited information from the health experts in our area. She noted the tremendous work our teachers are doing. At one point, early in the meeting she said, "teachers are working twice.....three times as hard as usual. They are working harder than they have ever worked before and we need to acknowledge that." - Dr. Paula Kellerer, Nampa School District. WOW. I am submitting this item to the archive to write Dr. Kellerer's name down in history. She is a champion for teachers, all students, and the well-being of our community. In a time where the teaching profession is under attack and districts are fielding those hateful Facebook comments...Dr. Kellerer stands strong. She advocates. She's thoughtful. She listens. I recognize how tremendously fortunate I am to work in a school district with such tremendous leadership. So, tonight, I wrote thank you cards. I know I could easily email Dr. Kellerer and other trustees but there's something about a thank you card that has extra 'umph'. Dr. Kellerer, we see you - we appreciate you - and we thank you for being an advocate for education for all.
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2020-08-23
Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine submitting a picture of my sock and underwear collection - but here I am. In the name of history! I am a teacher. I teach 7th grade social studies for the 3rd largest school district in Idaho. Our school board voted to start our year online as our COVID cases were spiking. Additionally, they decided to push our start date back a week. Our superintendent made the argument that we normally give teachers about 5 days to prepare for a normal school year and this was not a normal school year, so we got some extra time. Our district has been amazing. They are allowing the teachers to decide if they work from home or school. During the first week I chose to work from school. So, on August 23rd I was preparing to return to school. As I laid out my 'first day of school' outfit I realized it would include a mask. Well, here it is pals. Masks, socks, underwear....check! I am ready for my first day!
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2020-02-28
In this photo caution tape was put up around the playground to prevent any kids from going onto it as well as a sign that said that the playground was closed due to the corona virus. Generally during that time of the year (the spring) the playground is always inhabited with children and families. Usually in the afternoon, kids from the school behind it always played on it. The shutting down of schools and effort to prevent the spread of germs caused this playground to be also be shut down. It felt weird to me when I walked past the playground and the basketball court that was next to it, to see nobody there and it reminded my family of a ghost town. We walk past that playground almost every day and to see in empty was a weird and eerie sight.
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2020-08-29
After 5.5 months in quarantine, we are bored. Like really bored. My kids starting asking if we could put up Halloween decorations around August 10th. We love Halloween. My birthday is even on Halloween. But Halloween decorations in August is a bit much - even for me! After a few weeks, asking turned into begging. By August 29th I decided "What the heck?! Let's do it. Halloween in August it is!" The kids, in their matching candy corn pajamas, had a blast decorating the house and trying on old Halloween costumes. Now let's hope we can keep the excitement up for 2 months until Halloween actually arrives!
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2020-04-13
In the middle of the lockdown in Italy, things were looking pretty grim. Other than the obvious fear for the outcome of the pandemic people were feeling pretty on edge about police who were (rightfully) being very strict about abiding the laws about quarantine. People weren't aloud to see anyone other than the people they shared a home with and were supposed to stay inside at all times they weren't providing to their basic needs. One day I was looking through my window and I witnessed probably one of the funniest but surreal scenes of my life. A group of my neighbours were in the process of washing their car,there were maybe 8 people there between friends and family and they were very close, getting on top of the car and having fun. All of sudden they hear an helicopter approaching (police used them to spot "fugitives") and straight up jumped off the car and ran home all panicked. I couldn't stop laughing for an hour, it truly was a moment of release in the midst of worry and depression.
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2020-08-11
One of the oldest performing arts venues in Jacksonville, Florida, is the Florida Theatre, which over time has been an opera house, a movie theater, and a venue for concerts and plays. Even though under Florida law, they can reopen at 50% capacity, the layout of the theater is so small they could only operate at 25% capacity to maintain social distancing. Because of this, they have to remain closed as 25% capacity is not financially viable enough to open the theater. The Florida Theatre is a building rich in local history, and in the past they have stayed open to the public because of the concerts they host. Not only that, it is a major local employer, employing people directly and also contracting work from other local businesses.
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2020-09-01
This news article from Jacksonville, Florida, talks about Red Alert Restart. Over the course of the pandemic, performing arts and venues for performing arts have suffered economically. RESTART (Reviving the Economy Sustainably Towards A Recovery in Twenty-twenty) is currently a bill in Congress waiting approval. To raise awareness of their financial problems, theaters across the country on September 1, 2020, lit their exteriors in red to represent their financial losses due to the pandemic. Many of the participating theaters in Jacksonville are places I have seen concerts at or are places I have driven by many times.
