Items

• 
  2020-04-30

  "The Coronavirus Conspiracy Boom" - The Atlantic Monthly

  The advent of the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated socioeconomic and political shock has created fertile grounds for the dissemination of conspiracy theories. In an article for the Atlantic Monthly, political scientists Joseph E. Uscinski and Adam M. Enders provide an overview of why conspiracy theories have developed and spread, and how they are being exacerbated by political polarization, groupthink, group identity, and misinformation. The authors also examine the different types of COVID-19 conspiracy theories, showing that certain kinds of conspiracy theories are associated with political identities and exacerbated by conspiratorial statements made by politicians.
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  2020-05-09

  "If Someone Shares the ‘Plandemic’ Video, How Should You Respond?" - The Atlantic Monthly

  The COVID-19 pandemic and its associated economic shock have created fertile conditions for the development and spread of conspiracy theories, especially about the nature of the pandemic. These conspiracy theories have begun to permeate the lives of many Americans, disrupting personal relationships through arguments and disgust. In an article for the Atlantic Monthly, journalist Joe Pinsker provides readers with advice on what to do if someone in their personal circle shares conspiracy theory videos, particularly the Plandemic documentary. Rather than be combative and insulting, Pinsker advises his readers to be emphatic and understanding. This allows readers to pivot the conversation toward addressing the conspiracy theorist's concerns, while also not causing them to be more entrenched in their positions. When these tactics do not work, however, Pinsker advises readers to give on them as a lost cause.
• 
  2020-11-18

  "The End of the Pandemic Is Now in Sight" - The Atlantic Monthly

  With the development of two viable COVID-19 vaccines, it appears that the end of the pandemic appears to be at hand in the near future. In an article for the Atlantic Monthly magazine, journalist Sarah Zhang explains how these viable vaccines were developed using new technologies and how the resolution of the pandemic is now more dependent on policy choices made by political leaders, namely the President of the United States. During the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic, medical professionals, epidemiologists, and vaccinologists were in the dark about the symptoms, treatability, and curability of the disease. After months of intense hands-on experience and in-depth genomic research, the companies Pfizer and Moderna have developed viable vaccine candidates. But these vaccines are different from typical vaccines: they are mRNA vaccines. This means that they work by injecting mRNA which encodes viral proteins, rather than injecting a weakened or dead SARS-CoV-2 virus. mRNA vaccines, according to Zhang, were once thought to be potentially unviable, but the positive preliminary results of the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines may mark the beginning of a new era of vaccine research and development. In the future, Zhang says, mRNA vaccines may be developed for the Zika virus or for personalized forms of cancer. However, a major drawback of mRNA vaccines is their fragility, as they require extremely cold temperatures to be preserved. Now that these vaccines may be available for public use in the near future, it is up to the United States' political leadership to formulate policies to promote the vaccination of the populace and the mitigation of COVID-19 infections during the winter. According to Zhang, "Every infection we prevent now—through masking and social distancing—is an infection that can, eventually, be prevented forever through vaccines."
• 
  2020-11-18

  Time to Standardize Masks with a Mask Mandate

  With more states requiring face coverings to prevent the spread of COVID-19, gaiters and bandannas have become popular accessories. But tests show those hipper face coverings are not as effective as surgical or cloth face masks.
• 
  2020-11-17

  Women Face Unique Issues During Pandemic

  For millions of working women, the coronavirus pandemic has delivered a rare and ruinous setback. Job losses, childcare closings and remote schooling are not just pushing women out of jobs they held, but also preventing many from seeking new ones.
• 
  2020-11-16

  Having a Negative COVID-19 Test Still Requires Social Distancing

  Some people have started to get tests for the coronavirus as a way to clear themselves to attend dinner parties without needing to wear masks or keep their distance. That’s absolutely the wrong thing to do.
• 
  2020-11-19

  History does repeat itself

  In this short paper, I wrote about similarities between the 1918 Spanish Flu the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. I analyze an article written in the Toronto Globe on October 2nd, 1918, and compared it to the events that happened in January-February 2020 in the United States.
• 
  2020-07-01

  Tweets from San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg throughout July 2020

  These series of images are tweets from or about San Antonio mayor Ron Nirenberg and his administration's actions regarding the COVID-19 outbreak in San Antonio. Through tweets, the local government mobilized to disperse political, economic, and medical information. Information such as case statistics, social distancing warnings, how to stay safe, and where to get tested for COVID.
• 
  2020-07-14

  International Students Fear Deportation For Taking Online Classes

  The article is titled "In reversal, federal government will allow international students to stay in the U.S. while taking only online classes," published by The Texas Tribune and written by Raga Justin. The article covers a huge issue that impacted international students as U.S. universities were making final decisions having whether they were conducting virtual or in-person classes in response to the pandemic. In the summer of 2020, the Trump administration had announced that international college and university students would be deported if they were enrolled in only online classes for the fall 2020 semester. The potential for international students to be deported for the fall semester was frightening as many students faced uncertainty about how the upcoming semester would go. This terrifying for schools like St. Mary's, with a large international student population from all over the world. Fortunately, in early July, Federal officials reversed the policy so international students could stay in the U.S. while taking online courses for safety.
• 
  2020-11-12

  NYC Schools May Shut Down

  The school system, the nation’s largest, has had strikingly few coronavirus cases. Even so, the mayor may end in-person classes because the city’s overall rate is surging.
• 
  2010-11-12

  COVID-19 is so bad in the US we can't even decide who has it the worse

  The US literally cannot determine which state has the worst COVID infections because it's all just bad.
• 
  2020-07-12

  California becomes the second state with more than 1 million confirmed COVID-19 cases

  California became the second state to reach one million known COVID-19 cases on Thursday. On Wednesday, Texas became the first state to reach this milestone. The US in total has surpassed 10 million infections.
• 
  1918-09-22

  Flu file Artifact paper

  It is about the Spanish flu during 1918 and how it is similar to our current pandemic.
• 
  2020-11-12

  COVID-19 Law Enforcement Deaths

  Throughout the year, Law Enforcement has been under the microscope, more so than every before. With all the negative attention being heaped on officers, police, troopers, and deputies, it can be hard to remember that they too are being affected by this pandemic and that no one is safe or immune. The current statistics (as of Nov 2020) show that the #1 killer of law enforcement officers is COVID-19. Hopefully, the new year will bring smaller numbers and a brighter outlook for Law Enforcement.
• 
  0011-11-12

  Repeating History

  I compared something that was written about the Spanish Flu in 1918 to something that was said about Covid-19 in 2020.
• 
  2020-11-09

  UK rollout of Covid vaccine could start before Christmas

  As someone who is patiently waiting for this dismal lockdown to end so I can get on with my life this is good news. Hopefully, things will clear up so I can actually go and visit my fiance. I wonder who all will take the vaccine though, or if visitors will be forced to take it.
• 
  2020-11-10

  産業医の診療もリモートで　生活習慣病など対応(2020年11月10日) - Remote medical care by occupational physicians for lifestyle-related diseases (November 10, 2020)

  テレワークの定着で産業医による診療も遠隔になりました。 　大和証券医務室・多田愼一郎センター長：「体調は悪くないですか？」 　本社勤務・50代男性：「特に問題ないですね」 　大和証券医務室・多田愼一郎センター長：「テレワークしていて運動もできているからいいですね」 　新型コロナウイルスをきっかけにすべての社員を対象に在宅勤務を導入した大和証券では、今月から産業医による診療をリモートで行っています。本社以外で勤務する社員も利用できるようになり、在宅勤務などの新しい働き方についても相談できるのが特長です。ただ、風邪などの症状には対応できないため、生活習慣病やアレルギーなどを中心に診察するということです。 With the normality of remote work, medical treatment by occupational physicians has become remote. Daiwa Securities Medical Office, Director Shinichiro Tada: "Are you feeling okay?" Working at the head office, male in his 50s: "No particular problem." Daiwa Securities Medical Office, Director Shinichiro Tada: "It’s good that you can do remote work and exercises at the same time.” Daiwa Securities, which introduced tele-commuting for all employees due to the new coronavirus provides medical care by occupational physicians remotely from this month. Employees who work outside the head office can also use it, and it is a feature that they can consult about new work styles such as working from home. However, the doctors do cannot take care of symptoms of colds but rather mainly examine lifestyle-related diseases and allergies. Video is translated by Youngbin Noh
• 
  2020-10-17

  A Pandemic Through Bad Memes

  HIST30060, this is a personal text reflection on my experience in the pandemic complemented by internet memes
• 
  2020-11-09

  Another One Bites the Dust

  Insecure work is nothing new but I was too lucky to hop onto welfare when my hospitality job wrapped up for the lockdown. Really feel for my colleagues, international students and others who aren't supported in the same way and have to hustle in exploitative arrangements. No workers compensation, pay well below minimum wage, and increased risk of contracting coronavirus all while keeping the city fed. These folks are holding it down for us without getting much back. Reform is needed.
• 
  2020

  Heartwarming

  This is a small article I came across while browsing on Facebook. All to common these days are depressing, sad, aggravating messages and stories, so coming across a positive story was particularly exciting. Thank you to all those officers who provided help and comfort to that little boy!
• 
  2020-11-07

  COVID Took Over My Life

  This photo screenshot is from a clip of the LAs Vegas Strip taken on March 30th of 2020, by Michael Quine. When this photo was first released on social media, I could feel my heart sink. This is the photo that made me realize how serious COVID was getting. My city. The city that never sleeps. Being silent. Out of the seven years that I’ve lived in Las Vegas, this was the first time where I had seen a street completely empty. When I look at this photo today, it reminds me of the day all of our lives changed, but I also think of how this is now considered the norm. Everyone wears masks and hand sanitizers every way you look.
• 
  2020-10-27

  Healthcare Workers Vulnerability to COVID

  This is article covers a research period from March 1 to May 31 involving adults with COVID-19 which included healthcare workers as patients. It reports finding who was affected, how sick they became, and the percentage of those who died. The median age was 49 for healthcare workers, 13 years younger than the entire group surveyed. Men outnumbered women in severity, but women accounted for larger numbers affected. The findings also concluded that healthcare workers are being stretched to their limits and operating with scarce personal protective equipment.
• 
  2020-08-03

  Pandemic and Social Justice Movement in the workplace

  This article is explaining how work environments will be changing, and for the better. The author explains how not only has the pandemic shown how flexible a work environment can be as far as working digitally and from home. The author also explains how the management of most workplaces need to be more flexible and diverse. The author also explains how we can better the work environment for social justice and lists a few ways.
• 
  2020-08-05

  Mayor Credits Viral Video in Rise of Tourism to the Lake of the Ozarks

  The Mayor of Osage Beach, MO one of the towns along the Lake of the Ozarks credited the viral videos of pool party at a waterfront bar for the large rise in tourism the area saw over the summer. One of the attendees at the viral party later tested positive for Covis-19.
• 
  2020-10-28

  Selfish World Series

  I like many people needed a sense of normalcy in my life after the shut down and curfews day to day with no new entertainment on tv. Just the growing numbers of COVID on tv as well as the news from around the world, places singing while under lockdown. Soon Americans were wondering would that be us? Finally we got the news that sports were trying to make a comeback by using testing measures at that at that point were reserved for the people in hospitals, and those that were most at risk. This rubbed many people the wrong way. While months after those days had passed, multiple sports were back on and the playoffs of the MLB was the topic of the world with a heroic comeback in game 5 of the world series. The game 6 topic was that Justin Turner was pulled from the game during the eighth inning. He would come back to the field to celebrate the world series even though his inconclusive test turned out to be positive during the game. The pictures after the game show him without a mask on the field with the other players celebrating the win.
• 
  2020-06-25

  Xenophobia and COVID-19.

  When looking for social injustice stories to add to the archives, I wanted to add the social injustice Asian Americans continue to experience during COVID-19. The Coronavirus has been referred to as the “Chinese Virus” and the “Kung Flu.” Xenophobia during a virus is not new. New York Times interviewed Asian Americans to share their experiences and to document the racial injustice occurring in the United States.
• 
  2020-03-30

  Teen Vogue’s Advice for Social Justice.

  I found this article on Facebook at the beginning of quarantine in the United States. This article explains how to be an ally and stand up for social justice during a pandemic. At the beginning of COVID-19 spreading to the United States, there were an abundance of stories discussing how Asian people were targeted and harassed for the spread of COVID-19. This article, from Teen Vogue urges young adults and teenagers to stand against social injustice and gives advice on ten ways people can help
• 
  2020-04-02

  Pennsylvania COVID-19 Cases Graph

  Graph shows the percent of population in blue, percent of cases in yellow, and percent of hospitalizations in red for cases in Pennsylvania. All the bars from ages 0-24 are quite low in all three categories. However from ages 25-65+ increase in all categories. The percent of hospitalizations rises drastically for ages 50-65+. While their percent of population and percent of cases are low they are the age group more likely to need hospitalization.
• 
  2020-10-30

  “The Simple Rule That Could Keep COVID-19 Deaths Down” - The Atlantic Monthly

  Aside from “flattening the curve” of infections, the longer one avoids contracting COVID-19 also ensures that one will have a higher survival rate. This observation was made by Sarah Zhang, a journalist writing for the Atlantic Monthly who has published several articles concerning the pandemic. In this particular article, Zhang briefly summarizes the reasons why it is better for one to get infected later than sooner, supporting each point with peer-reviewed research and statistical data. According to Zhang, one of the most important reasons why it is better to get infected later than earlier is that medical treatments of COVID-19 have been gradually improving since the pandemic began. For instance, ventilators were initially prescribed for most COVID-19 patients, but they were eventually reserved for extreme cases. Other, less invasive oxygen therapies have been prescribed for milder cases. Similarly, new drugs such as Dexamethasone have been prescribed to more patients as medical knowledge about COVID-19 gradually increased. These innovations are reflected in the slightly reduced death toll. However, Zhang reminds readers that despite these improvements in medical treatments, COVID-19 still has several confounding aspects. Furthermore, several experimental treatments and vaccines are still in testing phases, and will not be viable until well into 2021.
• 
  2020-09-18

  "How We Survive the Winter" - The Atlantic Monthly

  As the winter of 2020 approached, James Hamblin, a staff writer for the Atlantic Monthly magazine, published a longform article providing readers with a comprehensive overview of the dangers the oncoming winter would pose during the pandemic. These dangers included, but were not limited to, rising infections (i.e. a second wave of infections), the lack of socially distant amenities (i.e outdoor restaurants and public parks) for people, rising rates of depression due to further social isolation, and the lack of proper ventilation in indoor areas contributing to further infections. These increased risk factors, according to Hamblin, will make winter one of the deadliest periods of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hamblin’s warning is supported by a resurgence in COVID-19 cases in Australia and South Africa, which at the time of the article’s publication was experiencing a Southern Hemisphere winter. To manage the risks associated with winter, Hamblin provides a list of actions that readers can take. These measures include accepting that the pandemic will not be over anytime soon, preparing for more lockdowns, and cancelling holiday gatherings involving extended families. Furthermore, Hamblin implores federal and local governments to establish testing infrastructure to track and contain COVID-19, which will minimize the infection and death rates. However, Hamblin notes that the Trump administration’s mishandling of the pandemic and misinformation of the public do not bode well for controlling the virus. In sum, Hamblin’s article provides a comprehensive overview of what informed writers thought of the dangers of the then oncoming winter of 2020, and what measures could be taken by the average person and the federal government to minimize the spread of COVID-19.
• 
  2020-10-28

  Social Justice, Time Changes with Support

  The video from PBS News Hour is an interview with Professor Peniel Joseph, University of Texas at Austin. The interview is about the comparison from 1960s Civil Rights protests for Social Justice to todays. Specifically Joseph references the height of 1963 protests and involvement to this year's protests and involvement. This year's protests even during pandemic standards have outdone 1963 protests in numbers. The agreeance for Social Justice has also changed drastically. Joseph mentions that white people supporting Social Justice have increased and most protests are nonviolent. White people supporting these Social Justice movements have helped and the awareness for Social Justice reform has grown more popular throughout the United States. Joseph ends with the importance of the United States coming to almost half of the country supporting the Social Justice protests. The video is a progression comparison for Social Justice protests and how the support has brought the movements closer to reform.
• 
  2020-11-04

  COVID Election Year

  The photograph shows protesting in Phoenix, AZ on the fourth of November. The protesters were majority President Trump supporters, protesting that every vote be counted. Many protests have sprung across the United States for the 2020 election due the election results being undetermined. Most have been peaceful but some turn violent. The one in Phoenix was peaceful but more importantly the election results determine America’s course through the COVID-19 pandemic.
• 
  2020-02-28

  Don't take it(fashion) away from me!

  I chose this piece of media because this shows the intertwining of the government's edict to wear masks and fashion. This made me realize two things- first was that even in a pandemic like this, people still do want to improvise and try to earn money and secondly, beauty and fashion is what makes life worth living, as even in such a tumultuous time such as now, we find a way to overcome and make the world a brighter place;people will always find a way to put fashion and style in everything even in such a dangerous time as this. We see people even taking advantage of this new business venture, as when I was strolling around in Caesar's Palace, I saw a store selling Covid-19 related fashion clothes such as those in the picture above. This seems to be a compromise of the people and the government- "ok, we'll wear masks, but don't take it(the fashion) away from me!".
• 
  2020-11-05

  Canada and the Pandemics

  This presentation and interpretation focus on Canada during the Spanish Flu as well as COVID and how similar it is to what we are experiencing in 2020. It shows how different Canada reacted to both pandemics and what we can learn in the future.
• 
  2020-11-04

  North Dakota state legislature candidate won election but died from COVID

  A state legislator who died still won his election. I wonder how many people knew he was dead and how many people just checked the box because it was republican. Considering he died so early I wonder why he wasn't replaced.
• 
  2020-04-20

  The Committee to Protect Journalists Advises Protection Strategies for Protest Events

  This redacted photo from the Associated Press covers anti-lockdown protests in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on April 20, 2020. I redacted the original to protect the identities of the protestors. The crowd demanded the reopening of their state’s economy. Their demonstrations came on the heels of new social distancing measures to help diminish the spread of Covid-19. The article that accompanies this photo should be essential reading for both journalists’ safety and the public’s safety. The tips on protecting oneself in a violent crowd are widely applicable.
• 
  2020-10-24

  Defunct Shopping Centers Become Senior Housing Solution

  Due to economic hardships brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, many shopping centers and malls have seen their last shoppers. Many of these structures are now being repurposed for upscale, senior retirement living. The article observes that the over-65 population is “increasing by about 10,000 a day,” which makes such repurposing an inventive and useful idea. Wasik also writes that “the retail-to-housing transformation [has] been accelerated by the pandemic.”
• 
  2020-03-27

  Potato Soup for the Soul

  90-year-old Geneva Wood overcame Covid-19 despite a serious diagnosis. In her own words, she describes feeling grateful to hold her kids and enjoy time with them. Geneva said that anytime she was ill, all she wanted was potato soup. Jonathan Vigliotti reports that, “She says she was only one bowl of potato soup away from this story being an obituary.” Geneva’s story demonstrates the power of family, home cooking, and the hope of healing.
• 
  2020-04-23

  What grocery store workers say they’re facing during the pandemic.

  This article is important to share because although I was not a Wal-Mart employee through the pandemic, the employees interviewed in the article are relatable as the company has never been proactive and instead reactive. While I understand that no one was prepared for the pandemic, the way the employees were treated during this time was very typical to the way our store employees were treated, and still are, in situations where health is being risked for the sake of a sale. “The manager’s response, according to Hall: “Wash your hands every 15 minutes, so you don’t need a glove or a mask.” ‘She just walked away from me and started laughing, like it was funny.’ Hall said.” The article also goes on to state that it wasn’t until employees began speaking out against conditions and fear for their own safety due to the company’s lack of procedures and precautions, that they started implementing safety precautions for customers and employees.
• 
  2020-04-27

  Toilet Paper Shortage During Pandemic

  While many of us living through the pandemic understand the meaning behind this photo, future generations may not. This photograph was taken by a Walmart employee when his store had received a shipment of toilet paper. During this time of the pandemic, toilet paper was a hot commodity and would not stay stocked on the shelves because so many people were buying it. Although this is not an item that we may think of as essential during a pandemic, toilet paper was difficult to come by and the employees had put this out on the floor as soon as it had come off of the truck. Before they could put the item on the shelves, people had already grabbed it from the pallet.
• 
  2020-08-01

  "I'm Sorry, but It's a Fantasy"

  This article was written by a superintendent in Arizona named Jeff Gregorich. He expresses his concerns about the governor’s order that public schools that don’t re-open in the fall would face a 5% funding cut. He wonders what more they could have done for a teacher that passed away from Covid-19 who was following all of the recommended guidelines and was being safe.
• 
  2020-10-29

  San Antonio Family Bar

  This news article is about the San Antonio Shiran family business during COVID-19. In July 2020, the family tested positive and the husband/father, Harvey, was in the ICU for the month. This forced the wife/mother, Lindsey, to take over the family business. I also attached another news article about a Bexar County grant program for bars and restaurants affected by COVID-19.
• 
  2020-05-01

  What Black Americans Need To Survive the Pandemic

  It’s an article discussing what elder Black Americans need to survive the pandemic. It provides crucial information on the inequalities between Blacks and Whites and how that inequality leads to more Blacks dying.
• 
  2020-07-31

  School Re-opening Video from Now This News

  This video is from Now This News and uses footage from the School District of Manatee County in Florida. The footage was for promotional material the school district released in July 20202 for what it would look like in August to have their schools be re-opened. The video mentions the controversy between parents and schools and professionals that want to wait for in-person teaching to resume.
• 
  2020-05-26

  NAACP Responds to George Floyd

  I live just South of Minneapolis. The murder of George Floyd was horrific and brutal. It disrupted the community at multiple levels and it is still disrupting it months later. The official response of the local NAACP chapter is important to note.
• 
  2020-10-30

  Black Lives Matter and Covid-19

  The protests have a lot going on without the added stress of the pandemic. In many photographs of the protests, even the riots, there is a lot of masks. Some groups appear to social distance, but others like in this picture do not. People are trying their best to support the cause and be careful at the same time.
• 
  2020-03-12

  Microphone Touching

  The NBA was considering a stoppage of games due to the outbreaks of COVID-19. During one of the press conferences a player named Rudy Gobert decided to touch all the microphones in the press room after speaking with reporters, within days the world learned that he had contracted Covid-19 and the sports world began shutting down all sports, including NCAA tournament and all sports around the world. Gobert was one of the first celebrities to contract COVID-19.
• 
  2020-10-30

  Chicago Restaurants Struggle.

  As new restrictions on indoor seating take place as winter begins to ramp up, many Chicago restaurants are left wondering how they are to make it. Having a patio is really a privilege, having the funds to be able to turn it into igloo style spaces or completely heated is something that many restaurants can not do. In this article by Eater Chicago, restaurants vent about having wasted money restructuring their restaurants to protect their staff and customers. A large majority though were more concerned with how they were going to pay their staff and keep their doors open.
• 
  2020-10-30

  Chicago Restaurants.

  This shows how vulnerable we are as a country to covid 10 months in. As many restrictions were lifted in the summer, almost as quick as the summer heat was gone more restrictions were placed on restaurants. As many attempt to figure out some way to have outdoor dining in Chicago, in the winter, many know that the end is near. Many restaurants barely were making ends meet with the limited capacity seating and take out, and this latest round of Tell us a story; share your experience. Describe what the object or story you've uploaded says about the pandemic, and/or why what you've submitted is important to you. This shows how vulnerable we are as a country to covid 10 months in. As many restrictions were lifted in the summer, almost as quick as the summer heat was gone more restrictions were placed on restaurants. As many attempt to figure out some way to have outdoor dining in Chicago, in the winter, many know that the end is near. Many restaurants barely were making ends meet with the limited capacity seating and take out, and this latest round of restrictions will be too much for many restaurants to overcome.
• 
  2020-06-23

  Online Learning Leaves Students in Poverty Behind

  This article puts in perspective the effects of distance learning on families at or below the poverty line. Many students in poverty with food insecurity, family instability, and even homelessness are also lacking a quality education due to the pandemic and virtual learning. Along with these already existing problems, these students also lack some of the necessary requirements to learn at all including internet access and availability of technology. This is leading them to fall farther behind than they already were.