Items

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  2020-05-29

  Working Remote Internship

  Everyday, in theory, I wake up around 7:30am to prepare for my 8am meetings. Most days I wake up 10 minutes before, roll over and turn on my company-issued computer. If my internship were to be in person, I would have to drive 20 minutes to the office building in a different city. I honestly would prefer to attend my internship in person, but I admit online internships have their advantages. For one, no one knows that I am lying down on my bed eating during meetings. I never have to excuse myself to use the restroom. I can grab a snack anytime I want and wear my pajamas. On the other hand, I like dressing up in business casual and making an effort to look good. I was even looking forward to waking up early to commute. I wanted to explore the big beautiful office and meet other interns. So while I do not mind a remote internship, part of me is constantly thinking about what could've been.
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  2021-04-07

  Johnson and Johnson Vaccine Diary-Day 2

  DAY 2: 4/7/21 8:30am. I woke up feeling a bit better. My eyes were very sore and hurt, and my body was slightly sore. I definitely was not feeling 100%, but I managed to take an 9 am exam and attend two more classes right after that. My friend had asked if I wanted to study together and maybe go to the pool the day before. I told her that if my side effects weren't bad, I'd be down to study, but I was probably not able to swim that day. When I woke up, I was in the mood to swim, but was not feeling well enough. 4:00pm: I finished most of my work and got ready to go out. I went to Starbucks to grab a coffee and work outside with my friend. By then, I was feeling much better emotionally. 5:00pm: My friend asked if I wanted to go to her pool. I realized that I felt so much better, and accepted. By the time we got to her pool, I felt 100% better and was able to socialize with my regular energy. This concludes the end of my diary for my Johnson and Johnson Vaccine experience. I am writing this from Day 3, and I no longer have any symptoms. I have asked various people about their experiences, and the overall conclusion is that it depends on the person. Some people get symptoms the next day, some people's symptoms last more than 2 days, and some people don't get any side effects at all. My symptoms only lasted around 6 hours. Overall, my vaccine experience was nothing surprising and went smoothly. Although the side effects were not ideal, they are more of a minor inconvenience.
• 2020-03-05

  Classroom Networking

  I have always been a good student. However, I always make sure to have a "homework buddy" in every class that I am. That homework buddy is someone I can ask clarifying questions about coursework, exams, or quizzes, and vice versa. Usually, this study buddy is someone I already know in the class, or I just end up naturally making one. Of course, with online classes replacing in-person lectures, finding a study buddy has been completely different. I would say that I was extremely lucky to find my first study buddy. We met through our class Slack channel. We have been through time-consuming projects, grueling homework practice, and exam preparations...yet we have never met each other. We also only somewhat know what we look like (we both have social media accounts with little pictures). Despite this, I have never felt like we were strangers, and I am pretty positive that we would get along exactly the same way when we met in real life. We were both surprisingly nonchalant and neutral about our personal life details. While this is certainly not the most traditional relationship I've ever made, I view my study buddy the same way as I do to all my other friends. I have also joined group chats for my classes. These chats are fine; everyone is cordial and helpful. I would say none of us are friends, but questions get answered, tips are given, and it is still a beneficial group to be in. I am not sure I could get used to the new way of networking. Next semester, my university is supposed to be back in person. I do miss face-to-face human interaction, so I hope that I can make friends and study partners the traditional way again.
• 2020-03-05

  Quarantine Brand Reviews: Dunkin' Donuts

  I did not discover Dunkin' Donuts until the summer of 2021. I was never fond of their donuts, so I never paid much attention to them. It was only until the rise of TikTok that I found out Dunkin' sold coffee as well. Although, I did hear about Dunkin' Donuts changing their name to just Dunkin'. It is safe to say that I have visited Dunkin' more during the pandemic than I ever have in my lifetime. Even pre-pandemic, I have never dined-in at Dunkin'. Dunkin's drive-thru service provides a very speedy exchange. The issue with Dunkin's is that they lack consistency. Depending on the location's training, the quality of the drink can certainly be a gamble at times. It is safe to say that speed is the priority of Dunkin' Donuts. I have never been in a line at Dunkin' Donuts. A drink can be in your hands after ordering in less than a minute. As for quality, I would say that it is very decent at its affordable price point. Dunkin is an establishment that I frequent often during the pandemic. It is less wait than Starbucks, and cheaper. The short lead times allow for an easy and quick coffee run. My friends and I love going for a sweet coffee treat. In fact, the highlight of our first pandemic summer was getting Dunkin' donuts iced coffees together and catching up. The service was quick, so we did not have to interact much with the employees.
• 2021-02-18

  Quarantine Brand Reviews: Trader Joes

  I moved into a place that is walking distance to the famous Trader Joe's. While I don't necessarily buy into the hype and cult-like fanbase around it (there is an entire subreddit dedicated to just posting about things people hauled from Trader Joe's!), I definitely understand the appeal. Even with COVID, the employees are still chipper and friendly as they say. My Trader Joe's is located right next to my university, and I imagine it gets a lot of foot traffic every day. Every time I go, while not necessarily always packed, the store always has people milling around. Perhaps the small store size and narrow aisles make it seem busier than it already is. Despite this, the store is reasonably socially distanced, and everyone wears a mask. There are employees stationed at almost every part of the store, including the entrance, so safety precautions are well maintained. With its vast assortment of unique products, Trader Joe's will still be overwhelming to me, but I look forward to exploring more of the private-label brand.
• 2021-02-12

  Pandemic Brand Reviews: Starbucks

  During the pandemic, I have noticed that my local Starbucks drive-thru lines are still long, maybe even longer than before. Even during odd hours, like 5-6pm, when people are usually eating dinner. This has been happening even before companies stopped doing work from home. I wonder if some of the people in the lines are bored teenagers like me who just want something to do, and maybe a little social interaction. It could also have to do with TikTok, where people share their favorite Starbucks orders. It seems like every week there is a new Starbucks trend that people have to try. It is interesting to see how the pandemic has affected consumer behavior.
• 2020-02-05

  Pandemic Brand Reviews: Sprouts Farmer's Market Grocery

  There is a Sprout's less than 2 miles away from my house. My parents would often go to buy fresh produce and snacks from the bulk section. Due to the pandemic, Sprout's no longer offers their self serve bulk section. Instead, there are prefilled bags. My parents no longer frequent Sprout's, I think because of this new policy, or perhaps better prices elsewhere. Because my close friend works at Sprout's, I visit her at work. With the exception of the bulk section, everything is still the same. However, I do see the curbside pickup and grocery delivery options being used more. My local Sprouts has designated some parking spots for curbside pickup. One time when I was visiting my friend, she was on Instacart (grocery delivery) shopping duty that day. I walked around with her around the store as she picked up the items that the customer requested. She had to be very quick and find the items immediately. Not only that, but if the phone beeped, she had to drop everything she was doing to deliver a curbside order. Being an essential worker in customer service is very hard work. I hope that people can acknowledge and appreciate their hustle.
• 2020-02-05

  Pandemic Brand Reviews: I Miss Costco

  Costco is my absolute favorite place. It genuinely makes me so happy. Even going during the pandemic makes me happy. However, Costco is definitely not the same as pre-pandemic. Obviously, there are no free samples anymore. This is because it would be a health concern. Although I will miss munch and shopping, I understand that this cannot be expected during a pandemic. As of now, they have the free sample stations up but with just a display of the food. I know that the free sample employees are contracted by Costco. I haven't seen some of the familiar faces recently. This makes me worried, I hope they are still doing okay during the pandemic. I know that Costco cares about their employees, so I hope they found away for the free sample people to still keep their jobs. Another change I've noticed in my local Costco is the food court. The food court is Costco's loss leader, the delicious and extremely affordable food lures customers in and in turn makes them shop. Due to COVID, Costco's food court menu has been severely shorted. Fan favorites, such as the $1.50 hotdog with a free drink, chicken bake, and pizzas are still available. However, they are not the same products anymore. The hot dog, although still delicious, has a smaller bun. The chicken bake is completely different now. It looks more machine-made, and according to my father, does not taste the same. This really disappoints me, as the chicken bake is my absolute favorite item on the menu. The pizzas are only offered in cheese and pepperoni; the combo flavor has been kicked off. This also disappointed me because I only like the combo pizza. In addition, there are self checkout kiosks where you order and pay, then go up to the window to pick up your food. Other than the food, Costco is still the same. I think life will only be normal again for me when I can go to Costco on the weekend, shop and nibble on the free samples, and still leave room for a chicken bake and combo pizza to go.
• 2020-02-05

  Pandemic Observations: Unique Mask Problems

  I often feel naked without a mask now. Sometimes I get the same scare of losing my mask that I get with my cell phone. It is without a doubt that masks have become an important motif in our pandemic-lives. I wanted to share some random struggles of wearing a mask. They are only minor inconveniences, but I think they provide excellence context to the current lifestyle. -Glasses fogging: Glasses wearers often find their glasses fogging up whenever they breathe with a mask on. Luckily, this is an easy fix. As long as the glasses are fitted over the mask, there should be no fogging. Sometimes the mask has to be pulled up a bit higher on the nose to achieve this. There are also sprays that prevent glasses from fogging. -Makeup: People who wear makeup often find the undersides of their masks smudged with foundation, concealer, blush, lipstick, etc. Some people opt not to put makeup on the bottom half of their faces to prevent this problem, others just embrace the makeup smudges. -Acne: many (typically young) people who wear masks for a prolonged find acne around where their masks were. This makes sense, as sweat and moisture collects in the mask. Proactive skin care, such as washing the face with a gentle cleanser or other acne-treatment solutions can alleviate this issue. I personally see this as a non issue, as no one can see the acne anyways because of the mask!
• 2020-01-28

  Forced Quarantine

  Earlier this year, during my winter break, my brother was sent home two days before his high school finals. Someone in his class that he sat next/near to had contracted COVID, so as a precaution, he was sent home to quarantine. My brother was less worried about possibly having COVID himself, and more angry about having to make up his finals the next quarter (speaks a lot about our education system). I asked him who was the person that got COVID, and he said it was probably the girl behind him, but she said she didn't have it, and her friend that sat next to her backed it up. We drew out the seating chart and concluded that it HAD to be that girl, because everyone who was sent to quarantine was sitting around her. I told him that she probably just lied about not having COVID, because people would probably get mad at her. I personally would get angry myself if I was prevented from taking my finals, but I understand the girl's reasoning. No want wants to be bullied for getting sick, or called "COVID-girl," or whatever.
• 2020-01-28

  COVID Testing Troubles

  I needed to submit a negative COVID test in order to go back to my apartment, so I went to a free drive-thru COVID test at my local community college. The lines were long, but surprisingly quick. However, I was surprised that I was not given a straw to spit my saliva into the tube with. In my previous COVID tests at my college, a straw was given. I had a bunch of saliva saved up in my mouth in anticipation, but I when I got my tube, I spit saliva on everything but the tube. My pants were drenched in my own spit, it was nasty. It was also kind of hard and awkward to drive through the line and spit at the same time. However, I was really impressed at how fast and efficient the testing process was. I ran into another issue later, when I got my test results via text but not through my official patient portal. I had to wait on call for around 20 minutes to request that my results be uploaded so that I could send proof of a PCR COVID test to my university. Despite these mild hiccups, I encourage people to get tested regularly if they think they have been in contact, or have symptoms.
• 2020-01-28

  Everyone But Me is Vaccinated

  As of today, 1/28/2021, many people have already had their second dose of the Pfizer vaccine. Many of my friends and family members work in healthcare, so they are either on their first or second dosages. I myself have not had the vaccine, as I do not work in healthcare. I was surprised to see that this vaccine has more side effects than typical vaccines. After their shot, many feel their arm may be sore, or get exceptionally tired. My family member, after their second dose, felt slightly feverish. Luckily, these are the expected side effects, and they don't last more than around 1-2 days! I believe that they are now extending vaccines to front-line workers such as police, firefighters, etc in Arizona. Arizona has not been very good at social distancing, and I know many people personally who have gotten COVID (who luckily have recovered), so I hope that the general public can have access to the vaccine soon.
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  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.
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  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.
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  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.
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  2020-11-19

  California Governor Announces Curfew

  California Governor Gavin Newsom announced a limited stay at home order on Thursday that would require non-essential work and gatherings to stop between 10 pm and 5 am in counties with high rates of COVID-19. The order is set to take effect on Saturday at 10 pm and will last for one month.
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  2020-11-11

  Russian-developed COVID-19 Vaccine Interim Trial Reports 92% Success Rate

  Following initial findings of Pfizer's vaccine being effective in preventing COVID-19 infection in more than 90% of people, Russia says its vaccine has 92% efficacy according to preliminary findings in stage three of the clinical trials. The trial results are based on 20 confirmed COVID-19 cases.
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  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.
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  2020-11-12

  Chicago Stay at Home Order

  Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced on Thursday that the city is issuing a 30-day COVID-19 stay-at-home advisory that will begin on Monday, November 16. The mayor also asked residents to “cancel traditional Thanksgiving plans” and stay indoors as cases continue to rise in the city.
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  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.
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  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.
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  2020-10-25

  San Francisco is Leader in Slowing the Spread of COVID-19

  Despite being one of the most populated cities in the United States, San Francisco has the lowest death per capita. People who violated safety protocols were held accountable, and long lines were regulated to ensure social distancing. Masks were also handed out by the police. When I visited San Francisco, I was astounded by how many people there were, and how small everything was. I would have thought that San Francisco would be heavily debilitated by the pandemic.
• 2020-10-28

  Taiwan's 200th day COVID-19 Free

  I was born in Taiwan, so I was happy to see that my home country is doing so well in the pandemic. Despite their close proximity to China, Taiwan cracked down on COVID-19 very quickly and was never heavily struck by the disease. I asked my mother about this, and she said that Taiwan already has experiences with pandemics (the SARS outbreak). I think that coupled with the political tension between Taiwan and China prompted Taiwan to tackle the coronavirus outbreak very aggressively.
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  2020-10-30

  Disneyland Workers Face Huge Layoff

  California guidelines dictate that the state's largest theme parks won’t reopen until infection rates drop considerably in their counties. An Orange County health official has said that means Disneyland likely won’t be able to open before summer 2021. Due to this, many Disneyland workers have been laid off from a job that felt like home. Many furloughed Disneyland workers are struggling to make ends meet.
• 2020-10-29

  Airlines Conduct Tests to Prove that COVID-19 Spread is not High in Airplanes

  United Airlines, Boeing and the Defense Department conducted tests to gauge the risk of getting infected with the coronavirus on a plane. They used a mannequin that would use a spray to stimulate a cough. They concluded that the spread of infection is not high. However, the test failed to test many other factors, such as the patient turning their head to the side to cough, coughing while walking around the cabin, and other common locomotions of airplane passengers. Thus, the test was inconclusive, and seems like a desperate effort for the airline companies to get their customers back.
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  2020-10-27

  Kim Kardashian Receives Backlash over COVID-19 Vacation Tweet

  Celebrity Kim Kardashian West (@kimkardashian) posts a tone-deaf tweet about vacationing for her 40th birthday. This was not well received by the public, as it was viewed as overly privileged and offensive to the many people out there struggling to make ends meet during this pandemic. This tweet has sparked many parody memes mocking Kim's tweet.
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  2020-10-14

  Thanksgiving May Look Different This Year

  Due to new information regarding the discovery that small household gatherings were increasing the COVID-19 infection rate, Thanksgiving gatherings may have to be downsized this year for the sake of safety. I am very sad to hear this, because Thanksgiving is my favorite time of the year. Being away in college so long has made me homesick and I miss my extended family members.
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  2020-10-14

  Seemingly Innocent Small Gatherings are Increasing Infection Rates

  @betsy_klein on Twitter reiterates new information from the CDC director Dr. Redfield that small household gatherings are causing another increase in COVID-19 infection rates. I was surprised and saddened to see this, because I thought small gatherings were okay/somewhat safe. I am also disappointed because this means we have to be vigilant about social distancing again.
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  2020-10-15

  Biden Postpone's Kamala Harris's Campaign After Virus Outbreak in Campaign

  Vice President Candidate Kamala Harris's campaign is postponed by Presidential candidate Joe Biden after two people in campaign circuit contact COVID-19
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  2020-10-05T15

  Stocks Fall after Trump Announces Deferral of Stimulus Talks

  President Donald Trump announces that he will not discuss the issue of stimulus talks to boost the economy during the pandemic. After this announcements, the DOW was down by 400+ points.
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  2020-10-08T06

  Pollution's Effect on Coronavirus

  Bad air quality could worsen the effects of the coronavirus pandemic
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  2020-09-16

  Does the COVID-19 Pandemic Trend Influence the Virality of Trends?

  Trends define a generation. As someone who is interested in observing the rise and falls of trends, I was interested to see how the pandemic would influence the virality of trends. After all, most people are cooped up in their homes with not much entertainment. The rise of the social media app TikTok, coupled with the power of viral trends, combine together to influence the fads and trends of this generation.