Items
Date is exactly
2020-06-25
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2020-06-25
Florida
A comic strip about Covid-19 -
2020-06-25
DVUSD Letter to Parents Announcing 2020 Graduation
On May 1st, Dr. Curtis Finch, the Superintendent of Deer Valley Unified School District (one of the largest districts in Arizona), sent a letter as part of a daily update during the end of the 2019-2020 school year. Due to laws and regulations, there were many people unsure about whether the Class of 2020 would have a graduation ceremony. In this letter, Dr. Finch announced that an in-person ceremony would be held during the summer (July 2-3) due to a survey where the majority of parents indicated that they wanted an in-person ceremony. He stated a specific time for each high school and explained that additional information would be given each week, due to needing to plan exactly how the ceremony will work depending on guidance at the time. On June 25th, the graduation was canceled. This item shows the work and resilience that went into trying to give students and their families the milestones that they were hoping to experience. Many people, businesses, schools, and other organizations worked to find ways to safely host events. While some worked, this is an example of a plan that did not go through. -
2020-06-25
DVUSD Letter to Parents Regarding 2020 Graduation
This letter is written by Dr. Curtis Finch, the Superintendent of Deer Valley Unified School District, one of the largest school districts in Arizona. The letter is addressed to the 2020 class of DVUSD high school graduates and their parents. Dr. Finch explains that graduation (which had already been postponed by a month) would need to be canceled due to new laws and policies. The letter ends with an encouraging note. This letter says multiple things about the pandemic. First, many people believed the situation would get better. This is shown by attempting to delay graduation by one month when in reality, the increasing cases due to the pandemic would continue much longer. Another message shown by the letter is that school staff, parents, and graduates were working to attempt to save milestones such as graduation in multiple different ways, but were not able to. -
2020-06-25
In-Processing Day for the Class of 2024 at the United States Air Force Academy
Imagine yourself going into your senior year of college... but at a service academy while COVID-19 has sunken its teeth into every aspect of our lives. While most colleges and universities around the globe pushed back the start dates of their fall semesters in 2020 or moved entirely online, Service academies in the U.S. needed to meet congress' demand of supplying a steady stream of future commissioned lieutenants to the military. As a result, I found myself at 23 years old as a flight commander of 30 young, recent high school graduates who needed the same level of indoctrination I received into the Air Force four years prior. Rather than videos of years past with cadet cadre in the faces of soon-to-be freshmen screaming at the top of their lungs, this video provides the innocuous version of in-processing with unedited or dubbed audio. You might even see a few of my basics who didn't know what to expect of basic training during the pandemic. While the cadre in the film stand professionally and talk with a sense of authority towards the basics, I can tell you behind the scenes we were re-writing COVID-19 protocol and adjusting their syllabi as each day passed. Your authority as a military instructor weakens as its filtered through a wet, uncomfortable cloth mask (I strongly encourage you to look up "I-Day" videos of USAFA prior to the pandemic to compare). Can you imagine how much you have to yell through one of those masks to get 30 individuals to hear you over the other 39 flights sprinkled across the campus drill pads? My 6 weeks as a flight commander were filled with frustration, sympathy, reward, and most of all focus. First, focusing visually, I had to maintain social distancing anywhere from when basics were wrapped around the hallways to wait to shower all the way to when they practiced marching non-military standard "double-arm interval" for their basic training graduation day. Also, focusing through sound, I had to understand my basics through sweat or dirt covered masks as they recited knowledge, asked questions during academic blocks, or were struggling and needed follow-up mentoring. The measurable distance between trainers and trainees as well as the pauses of silence, normally filled with a constant cacophony of yelling, are what many graduates of my alma mater would call weak. Despite a lack of intensity, masks added a layer of confusion and frustration during a period that is already filled with fear, stress, and exhaustion for basics. For that reason, I want to ask those who weren't there to understand sensually why the class of 2024 still went through the same basic training experience as years past. Maybe a second listen to the audio can even reveal those same frustrations and fears from the basics reflected in the tone of their cadre. -
2020-06-25
Hats Off: Finding Closure Amid Uncertainty
This screen recording, a small snippet taken from a live video posted on the Richardson High School Eaglettes Facebook page on June 25,2020, takes place in the back parking lot of my former high school. The fixture in the middle of the video is a "stick chick", and just beyond the stick chick is the stadium where I performed at every football game for the last three years as a member of the Richardson High School Eaglettes, a Texas style dance team. What you witnessed was the senior hat-hanging ceremony, meant to be performed in our big auditorium at the end of our final show that is usually held in April. This moment is meant to be the pinnacle of the drill team experience, a last bow in front of your teammates, family, and friends as they celebrate and applaud you for your hard work and dedication. Every early morning, every sore muscle, every tear of frustration was meant to be justified in this moment, when I could finally hang the heavily sequined hat that carried the makeup, sweat and troubles of my three-year experience and inwardly declare "I did it". But that moment never came. When school closed indefinitely in March amidst the raging global pandemic, our final show was the first event to be cancelled, followed shortly after by prom and graduation. The disappointment was crippling. I felt my world cave in as every important moment I had waited months for was stripped from me, and soon sadness made way for anger. Then one day I received an email, announcing the date of an outdoor and socially distanced closing Eaglette ceremony. And funny enough, the moment you see here almost didn't happen. I was so content with my anger that I contemplated not attending the ceremony, controlled by the belief that denying myself of this moment would show the pandemic that it could no longer hurt me. But with some motherly encouragement I gathered myself up at the last minute, making it just in time to hang my hat. I recieved honks instead of cheers, headlights instead of stage lights, and the ages old concrete of the parking lot as my stage. But I wouldn't have had it any other way. What you witnessed was my moment of victory, my realization that good can spring forth amid bad, and the moment that I decided I would not let the pandemic defeat me. -
2020-06-25
"Holyoke Soldiers' Home investigation: 6 takeaways from Mark Pearlstein report on coronavirus outbreak"
This article comes from MassLive and reports on the major takeaways from a report that documents where the Holyoke Soldiers' Home in Holyoke, Massachusetts, failed in its COVID-19 response. -
2020-06-25
Banner Health Provides COVID-19 Update June 25, 2020
A press release from Banner Health providing an update on COVID 19 on June 25, 2020 -
2020-06-25
Pandemic Street Art - When Windows Become Canvases: Street Art for Social Justice
This video by SPARC Art shows a variety of social justice-themed street art in the United States. -
2020-06-25
'I Will Not Stand Silent.' 10 Asian Americans Reflect on Racism During the Pandemic and the Need for Equality
Asian Americans recount their experiences of the racism they face, being scapegoated as the cause of the virus. The aggression come in the forms of racial slurs, rude behavior, and physical violence. Many cite the rhetoric of Donald Trump and his insistence to refer to COVID-19 as the "Chinese flu" or "Kung flu" as justifying such behavior. These stories help illustrate the difficult experiences within the AAPI community. -
2020-06-25
Proud Boys Clash With BLM
"The Proud Boys, who claim to espouse "Western chauvinism," are a fratty, white power-y redux of the Men's Rights movement—except they say it's not about race, and that honoring a traditional patriarchal domestic structure isn't sexist. Less central to their beliefs but mostly just hilarious, their name comes from an Aladdin song called "Proud of Your Boy." They also happen to be led by mustachioed Vice co-founder Gavin McInnes. And if the rumors are true, their initiation proceedings include getting a tattoo and abstaining from masturbation, getting jumped in in a ritual, and beating up an antifascist." - Emma Grey Ellis, Wired -
2020-06-25
ISAVELIVES
This is an image taken by Bournemouth Pier in England of a busy summer’s day despite the restrictions in place. People had grown tired of the rules and were just wanting to have some normality back in their lives. People from all around the country had flocked to Bournemouth for an especially hot day and because of most centres for entertainment still being closed, half a million people were pushed onto the beach where it got so busy that a major incident was called by the council. -
2020-06-25
“In Mexico City, the Coronavirus Is Bringing Back Aztec-Era ‘Floating Gardens’” - Atlas Obscura
In Mexico, the COVID-19 pandemic has seen the revitalization of an ancient, indigenous farming method: chinampas, or floating gardens. As described in Amanda Gokee's article for Atlas Obscura, this indigenous farming method had been in decline for several centuries, but the disruption of Mexico's food supply chain has created an opening for indigenous farmers to sell their produce on the market. According to Gokee, the chinampa system, which dates back to Pre-Columbian times, is one of the most productive agricultural systems in the world. So it is no surprise that it has seen a resurgence thanks to the pandemic. Gokee's article showcases the efforts of one agricultural collective Colectivo Ahuejote, to further develop the use of the chinampa system in the Valley of Mexico. -
2020-06-25
Disneyland and Social Justice
This is a tweet Disneyland made during the peaceful protests. It is them explaining that they are going to switch their famous Splash Mountain ride theme to a Princess and the Frog theme. This is because the original theme of the ride was based off the movie “Song of the South” which is racially inappropriate and now illegal to own or watch in the United States. During the BLM peaceful protests Disney decided it was best to erase any evidence of that movie and switch the theme of the ride to something more racially appropriate. This shows where the Disney cooperation stands on the subject of social justice and their support of the peaceful protests. -
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. -
2020-06-25
Seniors Embrace the Arts During Quarantine
These images are so visually striking and uplifting. A lot of diversity is represented in the group as well. The seniors used their creativity and their imagination to take part in the challenge. These photos were taken at the Amenida Seniors Community in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. Perhaps other museums can follow suit and issue “museum challenges” to ease the stress of Covid-19. -
2020-06-25
President Trump and BLM
This is a news article explaining how Trump has reacted to the Black Lives Matter protests. He has reacted in a negative way and posted things on the internet that were false and showed his stance on the subject. It is important to note that this is the President of the United States and this is how he reacts to protests and people wanting change. -
2020-06-25
Coming Off Orders
I served on the COVID-19 Relief Mission for 93 days with the Texas Army National Guard. The attached orders and email detail my timeline on the mission and my preparation in late June to come off orders by my end date of 18 July 2020. I will not give any more details than that when it concerns orders or paperwork for orders in this public forum. I just wanted to add to military and National Guard perspective of this story as thousands of National Guardsman served on the COVID-19 Relief Mission. In Texas, the same rules applied to this mission as to an OCONUS deployment in terms of leaving mission. The orders were also longer than 90 days for most Soldiers which allowed them to earn 50% Post 9/11 G.I. Bill College Benefits if they had never served on Active Duty Orders (outside of training) before. -
2020-06-25
A Rest From Reality
As someone who worked 3 jobs in high school, was in 10 clubs, and took AP and honors classes, high school was a never-ending to-do list. I never stopped moving, so quarantine felt like the rest I desperately needed to get to know myself. I had never just done nothing or had the chance to do things simply because I wanted to. After a few months of sleeping in past noon and eating ice cream for breakfast, I ended up learning how to paint which became something I could do just because I enjoyed it, and I had never had that before. -
2020-06-25
Utah Pride Center advertises free Covid-19 testing
The Utah Pride Center shared on their Instagram account that they would be offering free Covid-19 testing on June 27, 2020. Access to healthcare and testing is especially critical for marginalized communities, such as the LGBTQ+ community. -
2020-06-25
Utah protestors plan to protest mandating mask wearing
As wearing masks increasingly becomes a political issue, a political protest is being organized in Utah. This image was circulating in local community Facebook groups. Protestors are vehemently opposed to Lieutenant Governor Cox even suggesting that mask wearing be mandated in public. -
2020-06-25
"#COVID19 has not disappeared... He looked GONE, but evidence remained."
A tweet from an account following Bunsen the Bernese Mountain Dog and Beaker the Golden Retriever whose owner, a scientist calls "science dogs." The tweet lightheartedly reminds follows that just because you aren't seeing something (or it's effects) any more, doesn't mean it is gone and then offers public health advice. -
2020-06-25
White Woman Seen Coughing On Baby After Mother Spoke Spanish in California
A search was on for the white woman who coughed on a baby because his mother was speaking Spanish in a yogurt shop. -
2020-06-25
How the 'Karen Meme' Confronts the Violent History of White Womanhood
Excerpt from article:The archetype of the Karen has risen to outstanding levels of notoriety in recent weeks, thanks to a flood of footage that’s become increasingly more violent and disturbing. -
2020-06-25
COVID-19 and SF Pride
Street photographer, Alex Stemplewski, captured a special moment between a gay couple during June, pride month, in San Francisco. The video begins as Alex approaches the couple. The viewer is reminded of the presence of the COVID-19 pandemic of a mask in the opening of the video. In addition to taking stunning photographs for the couple, Alex listened to what the couple had to say about challenges facing the gay community today. -
2020-06-25
US coronavirus: 'Apocalyptic' surges feared in some cities
While New York City, state, and surrounding areas were hit hardest initially, five months into the pandemic it is Texas, Florida, and California that appear to be the next hardest hit areas. These states also happen to be the most populous in the nation. All three are concerned about the record breaking number of new cases each day and are putting various amounts of legislation into practice to help slow the spread of the virus but they are mainly relying on people using good judgement, which as a resident of central Texas I can tell you has been lacking. Governor Greg Abbott of Texas has rolled back some of the states reopening plans but is mainly telling people to wash their hands, wear a mask, and maintain social distance. -
2020-06-25
Should we buy school clothes or pajamas?
When the covid-19 pandemic hit the U.S. almost all schools sent students home and continued school through virtual learning online or by offering education packets for drop off/pick up. It's the end of June and many school still have not announced their plan for this fall. Will students be returning to the school building to resume learning as usual? Will they be going part time? Will they continue learning from home? Will parents remove their children from public school and start homeschooling them? No one really knows yet. This meme struck me as very funny for this reason. -
2020-06-25
Ben Groundwater Tourism Article
This article talks of the metropolitan middle class and their 'invasion' of regional beauty spots - perforce, as they are not permitted to travel overseas currently. -
2020-06-25
Protect Your Fellow Citizens...Please.
Affixed to the jungle gym at Sunset Park in west Wichita, Kansas, this sign encourages Wichitans to protect each other and prevent COVID-19's spread by adopting the listed measures. This photo was taken against the backdrop of rising case numbers in Kansas, as well as in neighboring Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas, as local authorities in Sedgwick County opted to continue re-opening without imposing any restrictions to mitigate the virus's transmission. Given the local government's "hands-off" approach, the effectiveness of any and all mitigation efforts rested solely with citizens' willingness to cooperate. -
2020-06-25
The Sound of Silence: COVID Summer 2020
On June 24, 2020, the city of Wichita, Kansas, announced that it would not open any of the city's municipal water parks, splash pads, or swimming pools for the duration of the summer. Pools like west Wichita's Harvest Park, shown here, would normally be teeming with people on hot summer days, but COVID-19 defied public health officials' predictions of a summer remission, with case numbers surging across the South and Central Plains. Kansas suffered an influx of summer COVID infections due in part to a politically-driven, decentralized re-opening plan that devolved authority to county commissions and local officials, while relegating what had once been mandatory state executive orders to mere "suggestions." With Kansas and surrounding states grappling with widespread illnesses, the summer of 2020 was marked by empty pools and filling hospitals. -
2020-06-25
Daily life changes due to Covid
Here we have a tweet discussing one of the may daily life changes that have taken place since covid and lockdown began. In this case, the user talks about how bus travel has changed since lockdown in Berlin. Bus divers in Berlin are now behind plastic sheets and the front doors of buses are no longer used in order to protect drivers. Many bus drivers have gotten sick and died due to the large public interaction their job has. I wanted to put this into the archive because it is a simple example of how covid has altered society and daily life. Here we have an example of public transportation being altered, likely permanently, in Berlin due to the virus. Between all the headlines and stats are the real life changes everyone sees, and this is one example. I also took note of the fact that Europe is still in their first lockdown, while we here in America are wondering if there will be a second lockdown since the first one has essentially over for weeks. -
2020-06-25
The mask debate rages on in America
This viral tweet presents the pro mask side of the mask debate that is taking place in the US. Many anti mask rallies and protests have taken place in recent days to protest health mandates requiring masks in public to prevent virus spread. On the other hand, many people support the mask mandates and argue the anti maskers are the reason for the spike in cases. Here we have a service employ who is required to wear a mask for her job highlighting that wearing a mask to the grocery store is easier than wearing a mask for eight hours like all service workers must do. I chose to include this tweet because it presents the pro mask side of the mask debate. Unlike other countries, the US has had large anti mask and anti health guidelines protests from those on the right wing who feel their rights are being violated. I felt this was quite a uniquely American thing, and so included it in the archive. -
2020-06-25
Trump shifts from case count to death count and assures no second lockdown
Trump shifts narrative from cases going down to mortality rate dropping as US hits new daily case record. The President also highlights the "economy roaring back" as the nation reopens and notes that "embers will be put out" in regard to flare ups. Trump also highlights that there will be no second lock down in America. I felt this tweet was important mainly for the narrative shift and the no second lockdown decision. I have noticed a new pattern emerge in government discussion of the pandemic in that the narrative has been switched to focusing on the low mortality rate to reconcile with the massive spike in cases. This new tone differs from the previous one which focused on the low case count when the cases were much lower. However, the most important part of the tweet was the assurance of no second lockdown. This has large scale implications for the short and long term future of the pandemic in the US, like the lessened likelihood of future stimulus checks and other federal assistance and the lessened likelihood of national cases dropping anytime soon. -
2020-06-25
European nations where virus first went mainstream nearly cleared as US cases soar
Viral tweet today highlights the differences in cases between EU nations which were greatly hit by virus early on and the US. The days case increases of 190 for Italy, 81 for France, and 330 for Spain draw a stark contrast to America's over 33,000 new cases for today. The virus first drew mainstream attention in the west once it left China and started affecting western nations. Italy in particular was an early poster country for the pandemic, but now seems quaint compared the the United States. I included this tweet because it essentially sums up the current status of the virus globally. European nations are almost clear of the virus due to strict pandemic guidelines. Meanwhile the United States has taken the opposite approach and any hope for the pandemic being over soon is officially gone. What struck me about this tweet was remembering the public reaction when Italy was the center point of the virus, and the denial of the US ever getting that bad. Now the story of the pandemic has shifted dramatically. -
2020-06-25
Arizona becoming case study on how virus curve shoots up
The Washington Post released an article today titled "How Arizona lost control of the epidemic", highlighting the dramatic increase in cases in the state. Governing decisions and lacking health mandates are being pointed to as why the state has become a global hotspot. Cases were quite low early on, as the state participated in the national lockdown. However, as the state as fully reopened cases have skyrocketed. Governor Ducey came out today in a press conference with a notably different attitude than his previous tone of dismissing the spike in cases, declaring the spike in cases unacceptable but declined to provide info on a second lockdown. Arizona's role in the story of this pandemic is becoming clear, and is unfortunately a negative one. I felt as though this article and even just its title describes the current situation in the state. In terms of how the pandemic will be studied, Arizona is currently providing the example of what not to do, as other states and countries provide a more positive example. As an Arizona local this is disturbing to me but not very surprising. -
2020-06-25
Scottsdale night club charged with failing to follow Covid protocols
Popular night clubbing area "Old Town" in Scottsdale has been ordered to follow covid protocols when open to lower spread of the virus. Arizona has been fully open for some time now, including night clubs and bars. One popular night club in Old Town, Riot House, has been charged with a misdemeanor for failing to follow health protocols. Fully open close contact businesses like night clubs and bars have been pointed to as to why Arizona cases have spiked in recent weeks. As a student at Arizona State, i personally frequented Old Town and Riot House as many students do, so to see criminal charges being brought against them caught my eye. Although it is unlikely the owners will face serious legal trouble, it is clear they placed profit over health. Places like Riot House and other nightclubs currently open during the pandemic likely served as super spreader hot spots. These hot spots also likely played a large role in why Arizona is currently a global covid hotspot. I personally know many friends and acquaintances who attended night clubs in Old Town and Mill Ave in the previous weeks who have now tested positive for the virus. -
2020-06-25
Strange crossover between anti mask protests and George Floyd BLM protests
Scottsdale councilman Guy Phillips made national headlines today due to his comments at an anti mask rally in Scottsdale. Phillips parroted the popular BLM phrase and George Floyds dying words "I Can't Breathe" in relation to his feelings on being forced to wear a mask. A portion of Americans around the country and here in Arizona have been expressing disdain for new mandates requiring masks in public to prevent further spread of the virus through protests and gatherings. These new mask mandates come as Covid cases spike here in Arizona and across the nation. I found this tweet and the actions of Phillips here to be especially noteworthy due to the complete misunderstanding of not only the public health recommendations regarding masks but also the core message of BLM protestors. This elected official seems to disregard the dying words of Floyd by mimicking them to express his unwillingness to wear a mask, which, to me, seemed absurd. A big part of this stage of Covid in America is both the "giving up" of trying to flatten the curve by many people and government officials and the "anti health mandates" portion of the public and government officials who have turned the virus into some sort of political debate. Phillips exemplifies the latter, and I felt it necessary to include this example as I felt this is a rather uniquely American phenomenon or thought process. -
2020-06-25
The pandemic is threatening to close the iconic LGBTQ landmark Stonewall Inn for good
From the article: "It's not going to close tomorrow or the next day, co-owner Stacy Lentz told CNN, but the Stonewall Inn's future is in jeopardy. Payments for the bar's insurance and rent, in addition to normal operating costs, continue to mount even though coronavirus has closed their doors." -
2020-06-25
"If you want to contact trace people, download Tim Horton's app" Tweet
Tweet by CBC Newfoundland reporter Matt McCann reporting on a joke made by John Haggie, the MLA (MHA) for Gander, and provincial Minister of Health made about the scandal in which Tim Horton's was revealed to be extensively tracking those who use their application. The minister joked that they should use the Tim's app in place of a custom built contact tracing application for those with covid-19. -
2020-06-25
Resources for First Nations, Inuit and Métis Community Members
A collection of resources regarding covid-19 produced by various government and community associations across the country specifically for indigenous people. It was produced by Ottawa Public Health. The resources are in a variety of indigenous languages including Cree, Ojibwe, Mi'kmaq, Inuktitut, and Algonquin, which touch on a variety of issues, including those which have uniquely cultural significance such as tobacco use. -
2020-06-25
"Protect Elders by staying away. Visit through the window instead." Poster in English and Inuktitut
One of a series of informational posters/infographics produced by Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK), an Inuit organization, to educate Inuit/Inuk individuals on and to promote health precautions which prevent the spread of the virus. The ITK's resources are among those linked to a resource page created by Ottawa Public Health specifically for Indigenous residents in several indigenous languages and with cultural practices and values in mind. Ottawa has a significant Inuit population (the largest outside the North). The population is further bolstered by the fact that Ottawa is the closest major medical centre for much of the North, particularly Nunavut. As such, many come down to receive significant medical treatment and are therefore placed at a greater risk due to their medical vulnerability, on top of being in more densely populated areas with greater chances of contact with an infected person than they would at home up north. The poster itself shows a figure in traditional dress standing in the foreground with a cane, next to a window through which is peering a second person in traditional dress with a speech bubble which says "Ai!" The text along the top is Inuktitut, in both its own alphabet and roman letters. The text along the bottom is in English and reads "Protect Elders by staying away. / Call or visit through the window instead."