From 6fa3d6d03c4f0731cf388166bacebbf2e062fd1c Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Blaise Thompson Date: Thu, 8 Jul 2021 16:42:51 -0500 Subject: refactor with actual building --- source/covid-19/index.html | 234 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 234 insertions(+) create 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 new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2c6d5ef --- /dev/null +++ b/source/covid-19/index.html @@ -0,0 +1,234 @@ + + + + + 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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+CC0: no copyright +

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