Items

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  2021-09

  Rising Profits

  HIST30060: This is a screenshot of a whatsapp group chat for the workplace I was in during the sixth COVID lockdown in Melbourne. Despite restrictions being at its highest at this point, the profits for my workplace broke new records this week, similar as to how other major companies raked in major profits during the lockdown era. I remember working that Wednesday night, me and the few coworkers I was with were inundated mostly by online delivery orders but there was still a steady stream of customers coming in (quite often without masks) to order in person. There was little reward for our efforts, but at the very least I was afforded some peace and quiet on the commute home with the lockdowns in place.
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  2020-07-16

  How Have Pet Birds Been Affected by Covid-19?

  Northern Parrots, a bird blog and store in the UK, writes that pet owners are worried that their feathered babies could contract COVID-19. All the evidence shows that is highly unlikely. The blog post also mentions that birds are also affected by lockdown and quarantine in both positive and negative ways. One positive is that their owners are spending more time at home. On the flip side, favorite friends and visitors aren't coming to visit, and sometimes it is hard to find the foods they want. The article mentions Madeira cake, but in my personal experience it was often difficult to find fresh organic produce for awhile. The article goes on to talk about parrot conservation during the pandemic, particularly in Central America. There are fears that people out of work may turn to poaching as a resource for quick cash. Also a beloved ornithologist, Luis Fernando Díaz Chávez, who was important to Paso Pacifico's conservation efforts passed away from COVID-19.
• 2020-09-10

  keep our grandma safe

  While some of my relatives live in Australia, most of my family is in Israel, which is doing really bad covid-wise. We keep in touch via a What'sApp family groupchat. However, over the last few weeks, the groupchat had become a site of conflict. We in Australia, on one hand, take the virus very seriously and have favourable attitudes towards lockdown and face masks. My relatives in Israel, on the other hand, see it as a prelude to dictatorship. They also subscribe to all sorts of covid conspiracy theories that undermine their faith in public action. Although usually their opinions are tolerated, covid has really fleshed out our ideological differences to an irreconcilable point. The other week, my cousin in Israel showed up to my grandmother’s house with her friends. This caused a backlash here in Australia among relatives who were concerned for my grandmother’s safety. After quite a public and vicious argument on the What’sApp groupchat my grandmother eventually stepped in to defuse the tensions. As absurd as it sounds, I hope my relatives stay away from my grandmother. Their alternative views, which were once endearing and funny, can now claim her life. Ultimately, I would be powerless to stop them from here.
• 2020-09-10

  keep our grandma safe

  While some of my relatives live in Australia, most of my family is in Israel, which is doing really bad covid-wise. We keep in touch via a What'sApp family groupchat. However, over the last few weeks, the groupchat had become a site of conflict. We in Australia, on one hand, take the virus very seriously and have favourable attitudes towards lockdown and face masks. My relatives in Israel, on the other hand, see it as a prelude to dictatorship. They also subscribe to all sorts of covid conspiracy theories that undermine their faith in public action. Although usually their opinions are tolerated, covid has really flashed out our ideological differences to an irreconcilable point. The other week, my cousin in Israel showed up to my grandmother’s house with her friends. This caused a backlash here in Australia among relatives who were concerned for my grandmother’s safety. After quite a public and vicious argument on the What’sApp groupchat my grandmother eventually stepped in to defuse the tensions. As absurd as it sounds, I hope my relatives stay away from my grandmother. Their alternative views, which were once endearing and funny, can now claim her life. Ultimately, I would be powerless to stop them from here.
• 
  2020-03-21

  Flattening the Curve

  I was walking through Princeton University area and near the old movie theater I saw this poster. I thought that this would be a great thing to share on WhatsApp to help keep my friends and family safe during this time.
• 
  2020-04-07

  Are we creating safe and stable spaces for our children?

  Reflection of India's education system during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• 
  2020-04-13

  Online prayers

  For the past 22 years, Indians in Ghana have performed a weekly prayer meeting. Popularly known as the "Vishnu Group", each family used to book a slot a year in advance to conduct this prayer at their house. The gathering consists of nearly 60 people who gathered at the host family's house every week. During this puja, the gathering recites the traditional Vishnu Sahasranamam, Hanuman Chalisa, and prays to Lakshmi and Shiva. The group then proceeds to an hour long bhajan. After this, they proceed to the potluck dinner made up of traditional items. However, due to COVID-19, the group can no longer meet and have instead shifted their prayers online. The picture shows the prayer area in Mrs Gomati Mohan's house. Garlands are seen decorating the pictures and the host couple is seen performing the traditional aarti. In this new, modern form of praying, each member of the group performs the prayer in their own house and updates the other members in a common WhatsApp group.