I don't think that I can ever remember the CDC being a political entity, or one that ever really enjoyed any portion of the national spotlight. Rather than serving as a unifying, unbiased source to prevent the spread of the virus, it has become yet another battlefield in the ongoing culture war surrounding the coronavirus. This item was added TAGS v6.1.9.1. I originally searched under the hashtag #florida. Within that search, I have chosen to add the following tweet since Florida is one of the new virus hotspots. It also speaks towards the inherent doubt present in a significant portion of the population concerning the virus.

During the corona time, workers such as this UPS driver kept on delivering despite any personal danger to him from a high chance of of exposure. These workers, along with custodians, grocery store workers, and of course health care professionals, were rightly hailed as heroes. This is a touching tribute and acknowledgement of the town's UPS driver.

During quarantine, all restaurants were closed. This woman had a food truck and her reputation gave her a large following. When she was forced to close, she started making her famous breakfast sandwiches in her small apartment's kitchen. Her customers would preorder, then line up (socially distanced of course) to pick them up. She would lower the orders down from her fire escape to her clients. Pretty cool gal!

We were stuck at home in quarantine during COVID-19. So this humorous video where the dog goes out to get supplies instead of the people who are safe at home! Then there was a follow up video of a large dog staring into the glass door captioned: when your dog gets home and see you sharing the supplies he bought without him.

I became very interested in graduation experiences this year. I was sad that most all of the graduation ceremonies were canceled due to the Coronavirus. I thought it might be cool to just do a quick Google image search of interesting grad photos. This is the result.

I felt that the graduates this year got a really raw deal by missing out on one of the milestones of life. Most all graduation ceremonies were canceled, and if they were lucky, at least got a virtual ceremony or a drive by graduation parade. Then in June, the Black Lives Matter and police violence protests happened. I wanted to see if there was anyone who "graduated" at the protests, and discovered that some people did wear their caps and gowns to the protests. I felt it was important to capture and share these images. I'm only sharing my Google search, but there are so many images here that have an impact.

I have always been interested in fashion. This is an article about what people are wearing. Quarantine changed the need for business work clothes--except for the top half--the one that shows on the Zoom/video conferencing meetings and classes. This article lays out the comfortable clothes that people are wearing and buying. It discusses the financial squeeze people are finding themselves in.

All Disney parks had to shut down in March of 2020 due to the Coronavirus. After 3 months, they decided to open. This was not without controversy, however, because at that point in time, Florida was leading the nation in the number of COVID cases. At this writing, they broke the record for the highest number of cases anywhere in the world for one day, and that was even before 9am. Meanwhile, the park looked almost empty. The characters didn't touch or come within 10 feet of the children, and social distancing seemed to be enforced. It is the "New Normal" for the world's happiest place.

This is the story of a family from China who were renting an AirBnB basement in a home. COVID hit, travel was prohibited, so they had to stay put. They were stranded together and became a temporary family. They all pitched in together and made it through, helping with chores, meals, and babies. The stranded couple came to Salt Lake City to complete their surrogate pregnancy since it wasn't allowed in China. Their advice? "Never quarrel with each other. Cooperate with each other. If we have some difficulties, just get it together."

This is an article about a mother who was a stripper before the clubs had to close due to COVID laws. Now she is using porn to pay her bills while in quarantine. She does webcam work along with sexting and other things. She has an 8 year old daughter and discusses how she explains her work to her. She is conflicted about what other people think of her activities, her difficulty taking money becuase the usual venues don't accept sext trade payments, how to get social media followers, how privacy acts are affecting her, and the benefit of porn to people who partake in it. She ends with "Porn is literally saving many people's lives during quarantine."

This is a cartoon by The Onion, a news outlet that satires our society. It is showing that people who go to bars, sporting events, and parties get to heaven on the fast track. in other words, they are the ones who die or will die from COVID-19. Those "lucky" souls get into the VIP line, while the old folks who pass away from natural causes have to wait and show "two forms of ID." Those revelers sure look happy though, don't they? Was all the partying worth it?

On Wednesday, July 16th, 2020 Austin, Texas area teachers held a sit in/protest around the state capital building to express their fear of being forced to go back to in person school this fall. School begins in one month. Having personally watched this protest be planned I know that the reason they chose this location was because they could not get onto the capital grounds. Entrance to the grounds are barricaded and National Guard troops are present. I also know that TEA, Texas Education Agency, has announced they will work from home until January 2021. How can they look out for themselves but send precious students and teachers back to work?

An inmate at San Quentin prison in San Francisco, California, has been sending letters out to someone who is posting them on this blog. Today he explains a news story he saw on Democracy Now. The story says 16 states have begun releasing prisoners but New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo, has resisted even with hundreds of inmates and facility employees testing positive.

These images show the Twitter feed of an incarcerated person. They are Tweeting on a contraband cellphone as a way to show the public what it is like to be in prison during the pandemic. This week he reveals that he has Covid and is experiencing symptoms including, headache, nausea, shivering, sweating, and diarrhea. Another friend has been hospitalized. He shared a petition to gain early release for incarcerated persons and wonders how being left in a cell 24 hours a day is humane treatment for a sick person.

One problem the United States is facing during the pandemic is a fragmented health care system that is reliant on outdated technology, like the fax machine. This article goes into detail about why we are in this situation and the effects it is having on the nations response to the virus.

Orange County has been one of the cultural battlegrounds in the U.S. over all issues surrounding the coronavirus. As reopening the economy and the mask debate have somewhat receded, the next major issue is how schools will go about returning to classes in the Fall. Despite the existing health concerns, the school board voted to proceed with suggestions concerning health concerns, but no mandates. This item was added TAGS v6.1.9.1. I originally searched under the hashtag #orangecounty. Within that search, I have chosen to add the following tweet because it highlights the public reaction to the ongoing debate on how to successfully get students back to school. Link to the CBSLA article: (https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2020/07/13/oc-school-board-classes-fall/)

I decided to start making a sourdough starter a couple months into quarantine like just about everyone else. I had a fairly large stockpile of flour in my cupboards because I bake fairly often, so I didn't have to worry about dwindling supply at the supermarket too much. My grandma taught me how to bake from a pretty young age, and my mom made bread with an electric bread maker for years, but I'd never attempted my own loaf without a bread maker, let alone a sourdough starter. A starter always seemed like something out of reach and far too difficult for an inexperienced bread maker, but with armed with encouragement and tips from some friends via Discord, I set out to make my own. These are photos of my process, from my beginning mixture of flour and water to my first sourdough loaf (and my starter's permanent 'home'). I'm fairly proud of it. It took me about 2 weeks to get the starter to really start; I'm guessing in part because I only had all-purpose flour and not the suggested rye flour. There was a lot of troubleshooting involved before it really started to mature. It's been an interesting process, and I'm really glad I tried it. Starters are far more resilient than I had previous believed, and the bread is fantastic. It's been a somewhat calming respite from everything, even though I feel fairly selfish giving myself that with everything that's happening.

As a teacher, I am concerned about having to go back into the classroom. I have preexisting conditions, live with at risk individuals, and don't want to die. While I know that private schools tend to be better funded than public schools, I was shocked and confused as to why the government would choose to prioritize institutions that are able to support themselves better in these trying times. This item was added TAGS v6.1.9.1. I originally searched under the hashtag #schools. Within that search, I have chosen to add the following tweet because it discusses the opening salvos in an ongoing battle between States and Individuals vs the Federal Government over the allocation of relief funds. Link to the NPR article: (https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/07/07/888793021/states-sue-education-department-over-allocation-of-pandemic-funds-to-schools?utm_campaign=npr&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_term=nprnews&utm_medium=social)

When the schools originally shut down back in March, professional sports league were quick to follow congruently. Distance learning doesn't necessarily carry over to sports. As Summer reaches its height, everyone is itching to return to school and get sports back on as quickly as possible. What this looks like is playing out differently in various job spheres. This item was added TAGS v6.1.9.1. I originally searched under the hashtag #schools. Within that search, I have chosen to add the following tweet because it highlights the priority levels in the United States for different types of workers.

Screaming is not allowed on Japanese roller coasters in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The instructions to riders are "Scream in your heart" instead. Then they attached a video of two solemn-faced men taking a "fun" ride on the roller coaster. They wear masks and don't crack a smile or show any emotion at all. Yet this is the example visitors are supposed to follow. (I edited the video down to about half its original length.)

Stores had lines outside them as they limited the number of people allowed inside. They would sometimes us an X to mark the 6 foot distancing rule while waiting. This gave birth to memes about the x itself. One person compared it to a Road Runner cartoon because the road runner stood on an X and every time an anvil or some deadly object dropped on its head. Another genre is the pirate stories. X's on maps marked where the treasure was buried. So all these X's around town could be very confusing while hunting for treasure.

This meme makes fun of the fact that people gathered in huge crowds during the Coronavirus pandemic. This person is portrayed at wondering if COVID only spreads in bars and restaurants or also in massive protests? Because apparently protests are allowed, but bars are closed. The "asking for a friend" part is funny.

During COVID there was no non-essential travel allowed. So vacations were canceled or never scheduled. We all had to JUST STAY HOME! This meme tells us that this person told his/her suitcase that they weren't going on vacation and the suitcase was sad and sat alone on the stair landing.

This is a funny meme describing our lives in 2020. Despite being careful and "looking both ways before crossing the street," we will still get hit by an airplane.

During the first few days of the Black Lives Matter Protests, there was looting and rioting in some cities. This meme is a humorous statement about that looting. The creator claims he/she wants to steal a penguin if looting starts in Boston. Mind your business if you see him walking out holding one.

There was a show on TV called Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? It was a quiz show with relatively easy questions. This meme mimics the show and asks what the scariest part of 2020 is. The choices are murder hornets, Covid-19, toilet paper, or Carole Baskin, who ran an "big cat" animal sanctuary and had a reality show play during the beginning of the quarantine. You can see that the constant is having trouble deciding.

These parking lots were empty for months during the COVID pandemic. Businesses were ordered to close unless it was deemed a "essential business." Those businesses included grocery stores, home improvement centers, real estate agents, pharmacies, ranching, farming, food production, health care, motels/hotels. As a result, retail, restaurants, small businesses, salons, gyms, and so many others suffered incredible financial losses. Many will not recover.

This is a silly pun about pandas and pandemics. Since the panda eats approximately 15 hours a day and so does a human being in quarantine, that's why it's called a "Pandemic."

The Onion is a humorous news outlet that publishes satire and jokes. But now, in 2020, there is nothing then can write that is crazier than what's really happening in the world.

This is a humorous meme about the idea of using lava to fight COVID-19. Don't do it! President Trump has suggested injecting disinfectant, getting sunlight into the body, drinking bleach, taking hydroxychloriquine as a preventative measure, and having it magically disappear with warm weather. He hasn't yet suggested using lava, but stand by...

Masks are everywhere! I saw this gent in Target and was interested in his big mustache. He enjoyed having his picture taken

During the Buffalo Black Lives Matter protests, cops pushed an old man down and just left him there despite his head injuries. Trump tweeted this: “Buffalo protester shoved by Police could be an ANTIFA provocateur. 75 year old Martin Gugino was pushed away after appearing to scan police communications in order to black out the equipment.” Of course memes cropped up instructing us how to know if our grandparents were actually ANTIFA agents

When the coronavirus first started, online learning seemed like it could be fun in the interim. Working from home, avoiding a commute, and dressing less informal all were wonderful treats the first two weeks; as the quarantine and education questions stretched on, these same treats are now driving educators insane. In Pennsylvania, these concerns over reopening have led to voluntary halts on some of the most important social aspects of high school: sports and extracurriculars. This item was added TAGS v6.1.9.1. I originally searched under the hashtag #schools. Within that search, I have chosen to add the following tweet because is reflective of a general mood of uncertainty that is present around almost all aspects related to schools reopening. Link to tagged article: (https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/lackawanna-county/schools-suspend-sports-due-to-health-concerns/523-1dd67802-ac20-49a2-b0e3-f4a54f43b45d)

California is traditionally understood to be a fairly liberal state, but there is an exceptionally vocal conservative minority that exists in the state. Since the coronavirus began, there has been a similar culture war around many of the issues that are reflected in other parts of the country; in many instances, people blame the governor directly for everything that is going wrong. This item was added TAGS v6.1.9.1. I originally searched under the hashtag #california. Within that search, I have chosen to add the following tweet because it highlights a popular conservative voice in the state that is sharing their opinions on best responses to the virus.

When the coronavirus first hit California, there was immediate public discussion about what should be done about one of the potentially most at-risk populations: prisoners. Although there was an initial outpouring of sympathy around less-minor releases, the cries of law and order quickly went out, accompanied by the calls that civilization was about to end. How we keep these, and other at risk populations, safe is still a question that is up in the air. This item was added TAGS v6.1.9.1. I originally searched under the hashtag #california. Within that search, I have chosen to add the following tweet because it branches off on one of the arguments against wearing masks: their efficacy.

California, as one of the biggest states in the country, was always going to have a challenge in managing the coronavirus. After the initial horror stories that came out of New York sounded like they were from an apocalypse novel, I was hopeful that California would rise to the challenge and try to mitigate the issues. As one of the earliest states to impose quarantine orders, things seemed to be going well. Turns out, that necessarily wasn't the case when it came to testing. This item was added TAGS v6.1.9.1. I originally searched under the hashtag #california. Within that search, I have chosen to add the following tweet because it highlights the reporting that is happening around the failures that have happened in the past concerning the virus, and how we can improve things moving forward. link to article mentioned in tweet: (https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-07-12/california-fail-coronavirus-testing-covid-start)

By Katelyn Keenehan | Luce Foundation: Southwest Stories Fellowship

Morgan Keena, a seventh-grade social studies teacher from Meridian, Idaho, reflects on her personal experience with the COVID-19 pandemic. Addressing several topics, ranging from politics to parking lots, Morgan discusses distance learning, life in quarantine, and the response of the local officials. Suddenly bound to the confines of her apartment, Morgan vividly describes the difficulties associated with teaching students virtually and provides insight into at-home entertainment, including running, puzzles, and video conferencing with friends and family. Morgan examines the response of government officials in both Idaho and her home state of North Dakota, including Mayor Robert E. Simison, Mayor Lauren McLean, Governor Brad Little, and Governor Doug Burgum. Morgan also reflects on the experience of finding out her sister tested negative for COVID-19 after possible exposure at a bar in Scottsdale, Arizona. Looking ahead, Morgan expresses concern about members of the public not wearing masks and the prolonged process of developing a vaccine.

Local Contra Costa County dentistry practices were closed during the county's shelter-in-place order that begin mid-March 2020. The dental practice my children go to, Danville Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, was closed on March 13, 2020 and reopened May 18, 2020. In preparation for their opening, they thoughtfully sent all of their patients an email with a video explaining the new procedures they would follow as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Their communication was calm, uplifting and reassuring. They have taken all possible precautions to keep their staff and patients safe. I appreciate the responsible manner in which they are operating in these uncertain times. As always, Danville Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics is truly a class act.

My mother has been a healthcare employee for over 20 years. She loves her job and her patients. She is also immunodeficient. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, she was placed on medical leave. After 3 months in isolation, she returned to work to face her new reality. Thankfully, in the time she was at home, her employer acquired ppe and has implemented strict social distancing policies, including teleappoinments. Her employer has been understanding and supportive of her medical needs. And she feels as safe as she can feel when she is at work. But this doesn't mean it is easy. She wears two masks (an N95 mask covered by a secondary mask) and goggles the entire time she works. She has deep seemingly permanent indentations from the ppe on her face. Even with the protection, she still worries about her level of exposure as she comes into contact with 20-30 different patients per day. I have only seen her once since the shelter-in-place orders began in California. And I'm not sure when I'll see her again. I miss her. Her grandkids miss her. When people question why my family is taking the COVID-19 pandemic so seriously, I tell them about my mom. She does not have a choice to stay home or to avoid exposure to the virus. With her condition, she is high risk and could likely die. If I can help her, and many others like her, stay safe during this pandemic, I will do it. Even if it means a great deal of personal sacrifice.

This is a news article speculating why the military members are having an increase in positive coronavirus tests.What they leaving out is although masks are required for businesses they are not necessarily being followed by soldiers working and the same for social distancing and hand washing. My husband is in the military and tells me they were the masks when possible but most soldiers find them inconvenient and remove them whenever possible.Also social distancing is not practical for their work as they sometimes have to be in close quarters to complete their work.This in addition field events,airborne jumps, and other major projects that place many soldiers in close proximity together is probably the cause of the increased cases.

A video surfaced about soldiers in the field who were suspected of having the coronavirus and instead of being sent home or two the hospital they made them stay in the field and isolate. I am unsure of the validity of this claim but I do know there was often times where the guidelines are not followed on the company or platoon level.

Athletes at all levels have lost seasons as the pandemic has swept across the globe. For professional athletes in emerging sports, such as pickleball, the challenges must be immense. As an avid pickleballer, I've watched as tournament after tournament get canceled and the sport's forums (such as the Pickleball Forum on Facebook) have become sites of controversy as some counsel not playing while others deny the crisis altogether. Lost in that space, though, are the really personal challenges that so many athletes face, including professionals who are defining the future of the game. Steve Deakin, one of the top men's players in the world, posted this evocative statement to the Pickleball Forum on Facebook about the gradual loss of the 2020 pickleball season; with 223 likes, 74 comments, and 5 shares in its first two hours, Deakin's post clearly struck a nerve within the pickleball community. "I wanted to take this opportunity to reach out to the PB community. Please read this to the end if you can spare a couple of minutes today.....As you may or may not know, I took the plunge to pursue PB full time late last year. This was the best move I have ever made. It was scary and exciting all at the same time. I left a job that was secure to pursue what I loved to do. My business/brand was gaining incredible traction and then boom...COVID. My tournament earnings dried up, sponsors pulled back support, my clinics/camps cancelled as "lockdowns" were implemented in Canada. I was livid. I truly believed at that time this was a glorified flu and I asked myself "Why is the Canadian Government taking such drastic action?" I have never seen anything like this in my entire life. I took the time while I was in this "lockdown" to educate myself as my common sense told me something is not right here. There has to be a reason why our Federal Government is taking such drastic action by literally shutting our country down? Well, there is a reason. It's called a Global Pandemic. This is real and it is not a "hoax". The country where I am proud to call home, united as one (regardless of the political differences), and started this battle against COVID-19 together. It was not easy and we continue to adjust our lives today. Whether it be by wearing a mask, not gathering in large groups, or social/physical distancing, the majority of Canadians took it on the chin and did what was asked of us. I feel strongly we are in a great spot today because of these actions. Businesses are reopening safely, new cases are minimal, and most importantly, the deaths related to this virus are starting to dry up. The message here folks in unity. Not division. I have many friends down south in the US that I truly miss. I love this sport. I love the competition. I love the fans. I know I am not alone on this. However, what is currently happening in the US is tragic on so many levels. Trust me, I understand the importance of getting back to work and reopening/rebuilding an economy. As a new small business owner impacted by these shutdowns paired with slow, phased re-openings, I get it. It has been tough. On the other hand, I understand everyone's circumstances can be very different. What we all share though unfortunately (literally) is this virus. I know what I am going to say next may not be popular with everyone in the PB community but it needs to be said by a player that uses this sport as a source of income. Running tournaments in hot spot states in particular with multiple hundreds of registrants is just not necessary right now as cases soar and people die. I cancelled my tournament schedule for July and August to protect my Dad, my Mom, my wife, my kids, and my friends from this virus. This decision was easy for me. There is no amount of prize money and personal brand exposure that can replace them. I want nothing more than my friends in the US to band together and get healthy. We will eventually all get back on the courts safely and responsibly together. Now is just not the time for me. I appreciate every one of you that took the time to read this whether you agree with me or not. I will always respect your opinions on this subject. It's an extremely tricky one for sure. Stay safe and stay healthy."

These images show the Tweets from an incarcerated person who began this Twitter account on a contraband cellphone, to show the world what it is like inside the nation's correctional facilities during the covid pandemic. This week he is talking about many people around him being sick, testing negative himself and then a few days later showing symptoms, 20 "man down" calls a day, which is a way someone needs immediate medical attention, it appears they are housing some inmates in tents in the yard to help with social distancing, genocide, calls on California Governor Gavin Newsom several times, talks about the vulnerable, Black, Latinx, Indigenous, disabled, feeling like they have a knee on their necks because of covid, and San Quentin.

These images show the Tweets of an incarcerated person for one week. They started this Twitter account using a contraband cell phone to show the world what is happening inside the nation's correctional facilities during the covid pandemic. This week they are talking about immuno compromised individuals, racism, Father's Day, inmates having trouble breathing and dying while waiting for an ambulance, 23 hour a day lockdown which means no phone calls, though prisoners are paying $1000 for contraband cell phones being brought in by cops, and he questions the value of his life.

These images show the Tweets of a prison inmate who chose to use a contraband cell phone to show the public what is happening inside of the nation's prisons during the coronavirus pandemic. This week he discusses defunding prisons, the ongoing brutality inside prisons, San Quentin, outbreaks from transfers, Juneteenth, taking action not just paying lip service to the holiday, black communities, and early release beginning with the elderly and others most at risk.

These images show the Tweets of a prison inmate using a contraband cell phone to let the public know what it is like inside the nations prisons during the coronavirus pandemic. This week he talks about the "racist violent system", George Floyd, wishes the momentum for change in policing and Black Lives Matter isn't lost, encouraging voting, #ClemancyNow, San Quentin in San Francisco, and being put in the hole after a prison guard handcuffed and kicked him in the face repeatedly.

These images show the tweets from an incarcerated person, using a contraband cell phone to tell the world what it is like to be incarcerated during the pandemic. This week he continues to talk about the murder of George Floyd by the police, protestors and violence against them, his own fear of white officers in his prison which he blames on systemic racism, states his views on defunding police and the need for new politicians and laws, as well as fear of prison transfers spreading the virus.

These images follow the Tweets of an incarcerated person using a contraband cell phone to educate the public on how coronavirus is impacting people inside of corrections facilities. This week he talks about missing his baby brothers graduation, inmates feeling panic about eighty prisoners being transferred in and their worry they could bring covid with them, the tension and fights breaking out, being in a human cage, and the prison administration.

Shanna Gagnon, of California, conducts an oral history interview with Anonymous. In the 30 minute interview they discuss numerous topics about the COVID-19 virus including shelter-in-place, early thoughts and feelings about the pandemic, consumer behaviors, supply chain concerns, employment, ventilators, death, face masks, politics, infection rates, social distancing, college, stimulus, deferred rent, and home and family life.