Items

• 2020-03-01

  Ghost Town Adventures

  During Covid, when everything was on lockdown, my wife and I found ourselves with quite a bit of free time. She was running a non-profit an I had recently started to go back to school. So, in order to get out of the house we decided to explore ghost towns. At the time, we lived in Montana and there are sometinh like sixty, give or take a few, within a days drive. So we would pile into our little chevy Aveo and drive out to a ghost town somewhere. What supriseed me the most was that even though Montana lists ghost towns on their state map not all of them are abandoned. More than once we would drive down a long dirt road into an old mining town that was supposed to be abandoned only to see people living in a trailer or in one of the refurbished buildings. Honestly, exploring old and forgotten parts of the state was alot of fun. Without covids restrictions we wouldn't have done it either. The only time we needed to interact with others was at the gas station for provisions and that was fairly standard. Just mask up keep your distance and go. One thing that suprised me about visiting ghost towns (aside from people living in them) was how long many of them managed to stay alive. For those of you who aren't familiar with the settlement of the American West, mining was fairly important in the mid to late nineteenth century. Regardless of whether it was silver, gold, copper, tin or any other metal, towns would form around successful mines. One these places ran dry though the townspeople would move on. But for quite a few, the mine would continue to be explored and excavated for years after it had quit producing. Seeing records of people living in an area in the 1920's and the mine not having produced anything significant in twenty years was fascinating. My wife and I spent quite a bit of time talking about these peoples lives, hopes, and dreams. Then of course if there were vampires hiding in the mines. I don't want the events of covid to ever repeat themselves but I miss the time toghether that it gave my wife and I. We have a child now so any adventure like this would be different but I might try to have us go get lost somewhere together one of these days.
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  2020-03-01

  Life During Covid

  Life during Covid has been anything, but consistent for anyone. However, I would say that for me and for many others, it was a huge wake up call. When all this started, I was still in my second year at Arizona State University, and truthfully was a bit out of shape which was out of character for me being that I grew up playing sports and being active for the vast majority of my life. As sad as it may sounds, this pandemic woke me up in a way I do not think anything else could have. It gave me so much time that I did not have previously, and I had more time to think, more time to realize the bad habits I had accumulated over the past couple years, but most importantly, more time to act and change. With the help of my brother, who also viewed the pandemic as a wakeup call, I managed to become more active again and become healthier in general. During this time, I also came back to my faith in God. For a long time, I had lost my faith and questioned it, but I never actually researched the questions or doubts I had. I finally had time to do so and in doing so, I realized the truth and fullness that can only come from our relationship to the one, true, living God. I became much happier during this time as, not only was I getting back into shape, but I had mended my relationship with God, and I felt a peace that I had not felt in literal years. Ironically enough, I look back very fondly of 2020 and when Covid broke out. Yes, this time was messy, it was chaotic, it was confusing, but for me, it was a time for reflection, growth, and maturity. I know Covid has negatively affected so many people across the world, and I have been blessed to not have been affected that much by it myself or in my immediate family, but this pandemic truly awakened me. This pandemic brought me out of a depressive, lonely, and unhealthy state of living and I am incredibly grateful for the experience I had.
• 2020-03-01

  Covid-19 Life

  When covid first began, it did not have a huge impact on my life and the lives closest to me. The two week quarantine was more of a vacation rather than a punishment to me and my friends. However, as the months went by and I was the only one that had to go back to work due to being an "essential worker" while my friends did not was a blow to me personally. I continued to work 40 hour weeks and lost thousands of dollars monthly due to the low pay and being in a sales job. My friends were in the restaurant business so they continued to get unemployment and made more than me. This was a very annoying to me. I would never hold that against them since I would have done the same thing if given the opportunity. As time went on, it became a different type of annoyance from dealing with people who refused to wear a mask and gave constant issues to me and my coworkers. Our company had rules and while I had to wear the mask 8 hours a day, the customers did a fraction of that and still would constantly complain. I understand they can be annoying but it did not affect their breathing like they claimed. I had a couple compare themselves to Rosa Parks by "refusing to wear a mask to make a change" which got under my skin. The way the American government went about preventing covid was done in a terrible manner and I am extremely glad we are past the true heart of the pandemic.
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  2020-03-01

  The Hardest Year Yet.

  March 2020 A week before the world shut down, I was enjoying spring break in the Bahamas still joking about covid 19. By the next Friday, I was preparing for the worst year of my life, and I did not know it yet. In two weeks, I lost the rest of senior year, prom, graduation, my stepmom was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disorder which made it impossible to visit my dad, faced the fear of my mom working with covid every day despite having an autoimmune disorder herself. I could have never predicted that my entire life would fall apart so quickly. I was mad that I ever took it for granted. I dreamed my entire life what my graduation night would look like, and I never pictured graduating in our local drive-in movie theater. I carried the guilt every day of not wanting to go out or choosing to do something else instead of seeing my dad. I wished I could go back and take any opportunity given to me. At this point, I still had hope that the nightmare would end by Easter of that year, but it seemed like it would go on forever. I was scared. I was scared that my mom would catch covid and not be able to fight it. I was scared my stepmom would not get better. Everything was so unknown I found myself fearing the future. I spent months doing absolutely nothing every single day. I was so upset I could not even bring myself to get out of bed to eat. All I wanted to do was sleep. I could not get more bad news if I was asleep. Every morning I woke up I felt like there was just more bad news and I honestly did not want to know what it was anymore. Waking up every day to more life-altering news with no end in sight was exhausting. I now believe that this has forever changed my life in both ways. I do not take things for granted anymore because I quickly learned how quickly they can be taken away. I have learned to always look for the light at the end of the tunnel because even if it feels like it will never end it will. The most important thing I learned was that life is like a wave, there are highs and lows, but you need to learn how to rise again. I have included a picture of the walking trail in my area. This trail was an escape from the scares of the world. I would often take long walks on this trail to calm the anxieties of the future. It was a chance to leave the house and almost forget what was happening in the world.
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  2020-03-01

  Letter of Termination - HIST30060

  In March 2020, my former place of employment was forced to close down as a result of lockdown restrictions. This was the only communication given to employees about being let go. I had worked at the company for four years at the time from the age of 16 through to the time I was 20. I have redacted some of my own personal information as well as information that could give the company away. The swim school did not manage to reopen at full capacity for almost a year and many staff did not return to the school as they found other employment.
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  2020-03-01

  Increase of Outdoor Participants since the Pandemic's Onset

  Since the start of the pandemic, I've begun to both run and hike when I get the chance. After talking with people who have done the same since before the pandemic, they've noted how there is absolutely an increase of people outdoors. For me, it's a great way to escape and improve mental health, and I think it's worth noting how many are trying to find ways to improve themselves and keep going through various ways during such a tough time.
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  2020-03-01

  COVID through the eyes of others

  Going through the pandemic myself has had a lot of highs and lows. Despite having to be relatively locked down and isolated from most people until vaccinated, I was able to pick up a lot of hobbies and overall just learn a lot more about myself. As I look back, I can't help but think about how this experience has been different for others, with one of these groups being the elderly especially. There's one couple that is friends with my family who are both just over sixty years old and starting from March 2020 has been on complete lockdown. They order their groceries, don't see anyone outside their immediate family, and rarely leave the house. While COVID for me has its positives and negatives, I can't imagine how different the experience has been for them, both out of isolation and fear of getting sick. Thankfully, they have been vaccinated and have extended the bubble of people they see slightly. I just can't get over how while some who are skeptics of the pandemic run around carefree, others are locked away in their homes fearing for their health.
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  2020-03-01

  Mask trash #5

  Mondays are "no media Mondays," at our house. I went out with the family to the river walk along Rio Salado. On our way back to the car, I found this black, fabric, reusable mask on the path just down from the Tempe Center for the Arts.
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  2020-03-01

  Covid in the Last Frontier

  The object I choose was the first "mask" I ever wore during the start of this pandemic. During the time, I was in Alaska, and when news of the spread of Covid hit, we (the state) went into lock down almost immediately. The object I submitted has more of a symbolic nature, as it signified a new world that not only were we not prepared for, but one that would become a new norm. At the beginning, it was hard to secure masks, as they were going as fast as toilet paper, so we had to make due with what we had, hence the bandana. What made things relatively difficult was the strict lockdowns and what time of the year they specifically happened. In Alaska, it is crucial soak up as much sun as possible in the late spring and summer due to the long, dark, and cold winters that often lead to Seasonal Affective Disorder, or Seasonal Depression. Not being able to leave your house, and having summer activities closed down made it difficult to soak up the sun and energy we needed. But as humans always do, we found a way, through homemade masks and long, socially distanced walks. I currently reside in Florida now, and the atmosphere was and still is completely different than the one I faced in Alaska. It was an eye-opening experience to live in two states during this pandemic, and how each state handled the virus in their own way.
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  2020-03-01

  Daily life at an Air Force Major Command

  Daily life at Head Quarters (HQ) Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) before COVID-19 and its restrictions was full of sounds and constant movement. It was customary to walk the halls and hear keypads beeping, and door locks clicking or overhear conversations as you pass people in the halls. Meetings were full of people, and the subtle roar of conversation was only stopped by the entrance of a General officer or other meeting chairpeople. As the restrictions for COVID-19 began to roll across the country, AFGSC was quick to implement them. First came a stop movement for personnel and a restriction of movements. There would be no or severely limited Permeant Change of Stations, and all temporary duty (TDY) was canceled for the foreseeable future. All personnel was to limit their office spaces to allow for six feet of distances and, if not capable of initiating telework procedures (which was an accomplishment in itself). This was the moment that life changed at HQ AFGSC. There would be fewer beeps and clicks. There would be no hallway conversations overheard because the hallways were nearly empty on a day-to-day basis. There were no more in-person meetings resulting in the muting of the subtle roars of conversations and the sudden silences created as meetings started. However, there was a new element created from COVID-19, a smell everywhere you went. Cleaning and self-sanitization ramped up at AFGSC. Every office you entered now had a hand sanitization station on a post or a wall. The restrooms and common areas cleaning increased, resulting in a lasting scent of bleach and other strong cleaners. But still, the most surprising thing was the silence that COVID-19 created in an ordinarily bustling Command.
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  2020-03-01

  Skating through Quarantine

  One of my favorite things that has kept my sane during the pandemic is my roller skates. They are hot pink with light up wheels and the best investment I have made in quite some time. For awhile I would go on long walks with my dog, but after so many days of trying to find new places to walk I was tired of that being my only activity outside the house. After I got my roller skates everything changed. I fell a lot learning how to ride them, but after some time and practice I got the hang of it. I would go to different parks, try different paths and see different views. Plus it was good exercise too.
• 2020-03-01

  My 2020 Online School Expierence

  Almost my whole 2020 was in online school. I would wake up later in the morning, have breakfast, brush my teeth, and start school from my room. It was much easier than in-person. I would be on Zoom most of the day, and stay on my computer after school to do homework. Most of my day is in my room. There were some benefits to this, however. I could go do something right after school instead of having to drive home and all that. It was easier because everything was on the computer. But I didn't like it too much because I didn't get to see my friends and I just like being in-person more. Overall, you get used to it after a while, but I still prefer in-person school. It wasn't really that bad, it just could be boring.
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  2020-03-01

  how my personality changed over quarantine

  when I was in sixth grade, my personality isnt like how it is now. I got more confident, intelligent, and have tried making my parents proud while having some traumatic experiences during quarantine. This is important to me mostly since I relate to this character on a personal level and hes helped me out a lot.
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  2020-03-01

  how my personality changed over quarantine

  when I was in sixth grade, my personality isnt like how it is now. I got more confident, intelligent, and have tried making my parents proud while having some traumatic experiences during quarantine. This is important to me mostly since I relate to this character on a personal level and hes helped me out a lot.
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  2020-03-01

  Escaping From Our Daily Despair

  Like most people living through these difficult times, I've found it exhausting to endure months without being able to see close friends and not being able to enjoy activities that I once took for granted. A lot of people have coped with these new, debilitating circumstances by adopting new hobbies such as baking breading and making pottery, but I've chosen to dig deeper into my favorite pre-pandemic hobby: reading. Before the pandemic hit my radar back in March (Like it did with most people), I had already amassed a collection of books that I had gathered from thrift shops or borrowed from the Phoenix Public Library. These books, whose topics ranged from Chinese science fiction (The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin) to 20th century European history (Reappraisals by Tony Judt), have helped me partially escape from the daily despair that came from watching the national death count tick up toward 200,000 people and the anxiety that comes with having friends and family who work in the vulnerable service industry. I feel guilty about escaping from our deadly reality into the pages of fiction, but it's necessary to prevent oneself from giving in to darkness and corroding your mental health. Besides, it's not like I have anything better to do with all of this time. Sometimes, I'd rather think about how it would be like to live in Ceres Station (The Expanse series) or to be constantly reincarnated (The Years of Rice and Salt) than to see the cold, hard reality around me (We're on the road to 300,000 dead by winter's end). Sometimes, you just have to drink the soma to get through this brave new world of ours. I just wish it didn't have to be this way. I just wish we had done better as a society.
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  2020-03-01

  COVID and RETAIL

  It shows a fresh perspective of someone working in retail during a pandemic.
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  2020-03-01

  Mental Health Effects of COVID-19

  COVID-19 was an experience that presented the ideal conditions that would challenge our mental health. The fear of the unknown, fear of losing loved ones, fear of missing out on our precious years of life as well as not knowing when we'll see our close family and friends. We are separated from society unable to see our loved ones, schools are closed, many people lost their jobs or were unable to work to prevent the spread of this horrifying disease. As we're locked into our homes, we confine ourselves in our own minds which can often be our worst enemies at times for people like me. We need to be occupied and be around loved ones in order to stray away from negativity. During these times being surrounded by close family and friends was a luxury we couldn't afford because of the virus and ultimately many people like myself picked up hobbies to distract ourselves from the dreadful events occurring all over the world. During my summer break, I began learning to paint and would spend about a couple hours a day painting with my friends over Zoom which would either sometimes turn out to be a competition between us of who would do the best or we would just freely paint while listening to some calming music and keeping each other company. Although I am not very artistic or good at acrylic painting there was something very therapeutic about it. My entire focus and attention was solely on doing my best to recreate the painting from the tutorial I was watching on YouTube or trying to win the friendly competition with my friends and this helped me steer away from pondering about what's been going on in the world and was very stress-relieving. In a way my COVID-19 experience taught me a lot about my mental health and helped me find ways to make the best of the situation and not take anything for granted. Now a couple months into quarantine I still paint from time to time although not as much because the semester started and being bombarded with assignments and tests but I do make time for it if I find that I need to release my stress.
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  2020-03-01

  Connect - Powered by NCJWA Vic

  Connect Is NCJWA Vic's set of programs for older women, encouraging social interaction while improving their mental and physical health. These programs create a sense of community and family while offering a place where older people come together, have a chat and relax. Our main programs are The Golden Age Clubs, for Russian speaking Jewish migrants from the former Soviet Union, and Seniors and Bridge clubs.
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  2020-03-01

  The Jam Project - Powered by NCJWA Vic

  The Jam Project is a teenage - buddy program matching participants aged 14-16 years with a female 'buddy' aged 21-28, with the goal of promoting the empowerment of girls, while helping to build their sense of self-worth, self-belief and autonomy. This is achieved through secure and reliable fortnightly catch ups, between the buddy and participant for up to a period of a year. Together with group sessions, the participants and buddies come together and are involved in activities that enhance their mindset and promote their curiosity, resilience and autonomy. Due to COVID-19, NCJWA Vic took steps to adapt the Jam Project in this difficult time. Our priority is to maintain our objectives and values through these adaptations.
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  2020-03-01

  "A lot of diversity in messages" Canada Day protests

  A thread of tweets from local reporter Amanda Pfeffer. The first is a video of the small crowd on The Hill and then a series of photographs in which protesters are holding signs. In the top left image the signs read, "WEARING A MASK IS A SIGN OF SUBMISSION" and "SOCIAL DISTANCING IS FOR ROBOTS!" behind the couple is a sign reading "THE CANADIAN REVOLUTION" and the woman's tank top reads "HUGS OVER MASKS" In the top right image a woman dressed in scrubs and a stethoscope holds up a flag with letters applied to it which read, "STOP FRAUD ABORT COVID / VACCINES SCAM [?] / RECOVERY RATE 99.9% / DEATH RATE 0.03%" The bottom left image shows a chalk drawing which reads "BLACK LIVES MATTER" with an illegible Instagram handle underneath it. The bottom right image shows a chalk drawing which reads "CANADA DAY CELEBRATES STOLEN LANDS &..."
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  2020-03-01

  Survive

  Left behind in US as a international student was a high-risk choice but I chosed it I have to survive it -------- thoughts when watching a quiet dock.
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  2020-03-01

  Pandemic Hero's

  This image is a photo of hardworking doctors in a hospital during the covid 19 pandemic. They are spreading a message telling people to stay home in order to stop the spread of this virus. #cshsecon
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  2020-03-01

  "Quarantine Room Makeover"

  When home during quarantine I decided to give my room a little makeover, here are the results in form of a tiktok. #CSUS #HIST15H *tiktok phone video
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  2020-03-01

  Flatten the curve - No restaurants

  Cartoon used in private email and social media correspondence to lightnen the mood.
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  2020-03-01

  My less lonely life thanks to Covid19

  How I am less lonely and isolated than before
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  2020-03-01

  Brian Moy, Maria Batlle, and Olivia Mitrano's Digital Archive

  We were assigned a digital archive project for our final assignment in history class. We recently finished and inside our website, you can see daily vlogs, screenshots of news and media sources, and pictures from our towns.
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  2020-03-01

  "Heaven Can Wait"

  A tribute to the healthcare workers at Emerson Hospital in Concord, Massachusetts. *Lucy Jimenez (senior at Concord Carlisle High School in Concord, Massachusetts - studying nursing at UPenn class of 2024)
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  2020-03-01

  My Covid 19 Journal

  Experiencing the coronavirus.
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  2020-03-01

  The beginning of a family’s pandemic journal: Creating a sanitized home.

  As early as March 1st, I realized I needed to treat my family home as a self isolation unit. My mother has only 1 functioning kidney, COPD, Heart Disease & significant history of cardiac surgeries. However, she has a good quality of life and frightened by what I was telling her of the virus. I read research and accounts from Italy and with no US response I ordered sanitizing agents, surgical scrub and gloves along with trauma first aid kits and things to keep us out of a hospital. The Pandemic Diary begins with a list of places to focus on cleaning.
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  2020-03-01

  Clean Hands Save Lives

  In this C-19 Comic Propaganda Poster, which is part of the Native Realities collection, Kickapoo artist and writer Arigon Starr (https://superindiancomics.com/sample-page/) challenges her Indigenous audience to help the medical community during the pandemic by washing their hands to save lives. #IndigenousStories
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  2020-03-01

  Keep Her Safe

  In this C-19 Comic Propaganda Poster, which is part of the Native Realities collection, Navajo artist Dale Deforest (http://www.daledeforest.com/) challenges his Indigenous audience to take care of their elders during the pandemic by practicing social distancing and the washing of hands. #IndigenousStories
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  2020-03-01

  Keep Him Safe

  In this C-19 Comic Propaganda Poster, which is part of the Native Realities collection, Navajo artist Dale Deforest (http://www.daledeforest.com/) challenges his Indigenous audience to take care of their elders during the pandemic by practicing social distancing and the washing of hands. #IndigenousStories
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  2020-03-01

  Common Sense

  In this C-19 Comic Propaganda Poster, which is part of the Native Realities collection, Navajo artist Vanessa Bowen (https://bowencreative.co/about-vanessa-bowen/?v=89d269ea9f2e) challenges her Indigenous audience to take care of their communities and elders during the pandemic by practicing common sense through social distancing and the washing of hands.
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  2020-03-01

  The Coronavirus in 6 States

  These images show us the unique battle each state is having against the virus. Rather it is people being forced to quarantine in New York City, police forces controlling the number of people going outside in New Jersey, medical professionals in Washington State trying to save people's lives from the virus, scientists testing a vaccine in Detriot, people gathering around their televisions to watch Dr. Amy Acton and Governor Mike DeWine at their press conferences in Ohio, or the government clearing beaches in Florida, one can see the that the virus is not unique to one state. It affects people, regardless of their profession, age, or location. So, one can see a united and individual effort to stop the virus and to protect people from it.
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  2020-03-01

  "Sequoyah Sez: Learn Your Language, Wash Your Hands"

  Roy Boney, Jr. is a citizen of the the Cherokee Nation (Tahlequah, OK), a film-maker, and graphic artist. This poster is part of the Native Realities series of Covid-19 Comic Propaganda Posters produced by Indigenous artists to promote social distancing in Indian Country. For more on Boney and his work, see http://royboney.com/welcome.
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  2020-03-01

  Social Distancing in Indian Country

  Posters are part of a campaign in Indian Country to practice social distancing for the sake of protecting elders. #IndigenousStories
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  2020-03-01

  Empty Churches in Italy and throughout the world.

  This shows us the result of what the Covid-19 has done to the public and to the Church faithful.