From 56d58b54589cd9b2d7015208478d09339e4136dc Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Blaise Thompson Date: Sun, 25 Jul 2021 16:49:14 -0500 Subject: porcupine tills --- source/covid-19/index.html | 234 --------------------------------------------- 1 file changed, 234 deletions(-) delete mode 100644 source/covid-19/index.html (limited to 'source/covid-19/index.html') diff --git a/source/covid-19/index.html b/source/covid-19/index.html deleted file mode 100644 index 2c6d5ef..0000000 --- a/source/covid-19/index.html +++ /dev/null @@ -1,234 +0,0 @@ - - - - - COVID-19 - - - - -

blaise-memories/COVID-19

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-This memory summarizes my personal experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic. -I've written it in first person as Blaise Thompson. -

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2020-03-18 Wednesday

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-Today is the last normal day of work on campus. -We have been told to prepare to shut down for at least eight weeks. -It's hard to imagine that it will actually be that long. -

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2020-04-11 Saturday

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-Gas is cheaper than I have ever seen it in my lifetime. -Near my friend Zach's home in Baraboo, gas is under $1. -

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2020-04-25 Saturday

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-I move back to Iowa City to live with my parents for the foreseeable future. -

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2020-04-30 Thursday

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-It's my birthday today. -I turn 31 years old. -

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2020-05-03 Sunday

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- I move back to Madison. -

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2020-05-08 Friday

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-Day 52 of work from home. -

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-The chair of the Chemistry Department, Judith Burstyn, sends an update email entitled "Patience, please" [PDF]. -In this email, Professor Burstyn clarifies that campus is not in control of the situation and there are no details to be had regarding plans to return to campus. -She includes two attachments from Wisconsin Health Services: -

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2020-05-13

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-Wisconsin Supreme Court Overturns The State's Stay-At-Home Orders -

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2020-05-18 Monday

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-Day 62 of work from home. -

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-I am partially furloughed from my job at UW-Madison. -Essentially this means that I am forced to take four days (32 hours) of unpaid time off between now and the end of October. -By "firing" me for this short period of time, the institution hopes to save money to compensate for decreased income. -While I'm disappointed to have reduced income, I am impressed with the equity of campus' response: all staff and faculty are being furloughed together. -Click here to read the furlough letter that I received: PDF. -

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2020-05-21 Thursday

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-Day 65 of work from home. -

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-I finally receive my $1200 "Economic Impact Payment". -To be fair, I signed up to receive the payment by mail rather than direct deposit. -I am thankful that I have not lost my job. -

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2020-05-22 Friday

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-Day 66 of work from home. -

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-Again, the chair of the Chemistry Department sends out an email entitled "more patience". -Read it here: PDF. -The Department is preparing to organize for whatever campus needs. -

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2020-05-23 Saturday

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-Day 67 of work from home. -

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-It's Memorial Day weekend. -Last night I slept over at my friend Zach's house in Baraboo Wisconsin. -Given the Wisconsin Supreme Court order, the local restaurants are now open again with reduced capacity (Baraboo is in Sauk County, not Dane). -For the first time in weeks, I have brunch at a sit-down restaurant: Broadway Diner in downtown Baraboo. -Things are different. -They have every-other booth taped off, so customers cannot sit directly next to strangers. -There are no paper menus, only QR codes to scan with your phone and download a PDF menu. -There are no condiments, even salt and pepper, unless explicitly asked for. -Still, it feels so nice to go back to relative normalcy. -After brunch Zach and I go out to Devil's Lake for a nice long hike. -There are lots of people enjoying the nice weather, and we see many rock climbers on the bluff. -

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2020-05-25 Monday

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-Day 69 of work from home. -

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-George Floyd dies at the hand of police officer Derek Chauvin [wikipedia]. -This event feels like a tipping point for civil unrest in this country. -Black lives matter. -

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2020-05-27 Wednesday

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-Day 71 of work from home. -

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-For the second time since work from home I get permission to temporarily enter the Chemistry Building. -This time, I am picking up a bunch of small parts for a hardware project that I am trying to work on at home. -Everything in the electronics shop is exactly as I left it. -

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2020-05-29 Friday

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-Day 73 of work from home. -

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-Again the Chemistry Department Chair emails about this situation. -"Research reboot lite" [PDF]. -This email shows that actual progress is being made. -Campus is entering into "Stage 1" of reopening, which includes limited research restoration. -This "Stage 1" will probably last through the month of June. -

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2020-06-02 Tuesday

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- My gym (downtown Anytime Fitness) is open again. - I've gained a lot of weight being sedentary, so it feels so good to exercise again. -

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2020-06-05 Friday

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-Day 80 of work from home. -

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-Research reboot stage one is beginning to come into focus. -Finally, the department has a concrete plan for beginning research again: [PDF]. -It will be very interesting to see how this all plays out. -

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2020-06-12 Friday

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-Day 87 of work from home. -

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-Chemistry department leadership again respond to the situation with COVID-19. -They also address issues of diversity and inclusion, which are coming to a head in Academic Chemistry. -Read Judith Burnstyn's letter: [PDF]. -

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