Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

The greatest commandment is love.

Social distancing for coronavirus prevents no one from posting on the Forum.

My daughter's a medical doctor. Her senior patients tell her they watch FOX News, there's nothing to see here, coronavirus is not a big deal. They've seen Dr. Fauci standing by the president; they're listening to Vice President Pence: Trump is on top of everthing.  It's being contained.

Beverlee Ann Arpan (Marshall)

Teacher:   Donald, what is the chemical formula for water?                       

Donald:  HIJKLMNO

Teacher:  What are you talking about?

Donald:  Yesterday you said it's H to O.

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

The Donald, I presume.

Remember today is Pi Day.

My grandchildren are home from school -
invited for homemade chicken pot pie, Brussels sprouts,
and homemade cherry pie a'la mode.

Stewart Myrent

Janis, sounds like a perfect meal to me.  Homemade chicken pot pie (Mmmm!)?  Homemade cherry pie a la mode (Mmmm!)?  How did you know to include brussels sprouts (Mmmm!)?  I would like to volunteer to become one of your grandkids, as it sounds like a grand meal I would look forward to being part of.  By the way, did anyone see a recent post from Alan Alop?  I am asking because I got an email at both my addresses saying there was a new post from A. Alop (which I was looking forward to seeing, because I always enjoy Alan's posts) & when I got to the Message Forum, there was 0 post from Alan.  So, what's going on?  Not very nice to advertise a post from someone & then not produce!  Curiosity, if nothing else, demands that I ask this question.

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

Some are called to war (health care providers & first responders),
others are called to sit on the couch.
We can do this.

Coronavirus, like glitter, is (almost) impossible to remove.

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

"Nothing's off the table," said Dr. Fauci.
The CDC is serious about social distancing, so are my daughter and son-in-law in Oshkosh.  
Those of us over 65 years of age are the most vulnerable.  
Both my daughter and son-in-law are health care providers.  
Schools in Oshkosh are online.  
We will be together as family members for outdoor activity (not at the YMCA); NO indoor childcare assistance will be accepted.  
They will do our grocery shopping and pick up and deliveries from the drugstore.

We're about flattening the curve and putting the coronavirus pandemic behind us.  
Fighting coronavirus is the immediate challenge.

Alan A. Alop

Hail the Leader!

He's so fine.

Ten outta ten,

Nine outta nine!

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

"I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.

"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."

J.R.R. Tolkien, "The Fellowship of the Ring"

Stewart Myrent

Janis, I enjoyed the excerpt from "The Fellowship of the Ring", in particular, the quote from Gandalf, "All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."  To me, it pretty much says it all, but, I have always been partial to pithy comments - and to me, that quote is the pithiest.  Thanks for passing it on.

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

Tulsi Gabbard suspended her campaign for the Democratic nomination for president; she endorsed Joe Biden.

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

We're pulling together by pulling apart to slow community spread and flatten the coronavirus curve.  
(First we have to convince people coronavirus is NOT a hoax.)  

A message from health care providers:
"I stayed at work for you,
you stay at home for us."

Coronavirus, like glitter, is (almost) impossible to remove.

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

When this is over,
may we never again
take for granted
A handshake with a stranger
Full shelves at the grocery store
Conversations with neighbors
A crowded theater.  
A Friday night out
A routine checkup
Coffee with a friend 
The stadium roaring
Each deep breath
A boring Tuesday
Life itself.

When this ends,
may we find
that we have become...
and may we stay
(because of the worst) 
better for each other.

Alan A. Alop

Stewart Myrent

Alan, thank you so much for the drawing of the American & Canadian mice focusing their attention on UCLA, where, as you note, they have developed a cure for "mice", or should it be "mouse" cancer.  I particularly like the Canadian mouse, as you made sure he was easy to spot.  I, personally think the "EH" voice bubble would have been enough to do the job, but, you were particularly helpful with the arrow & label. Thanks for passing it on. 

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

This is not a snow day -
we are in a new normal, 
that brings fear and isolation.
Special thanks to classmates,
who, when the mandate is to "stay home"
when social distancing is not what we'd choose,
think of us, and reach out on the Forum.

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

We're a long way from being out of the woods,
we're not yet into the woods.

Take care and be well.  
The pandemic is accelerating.
We know the drill, be vigilant.

Coronavirus, like glitter, is (almost) impossible to remove.

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

There is NO end date to a virus. This is a health crisis. 

There is mounting frustration and outrage fatigue.

Trump signed The Defense Protection Act, but has not used it.  
He prefers to leave responsibility with the states as virus cases spike and states plea for federal help.  
States are bidding against FEMA, and against other states and countries for necessary medical equipment.

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

It's important that we listen to Dr Fauci -
The coronavirus will dictate the timeline.  

STAY HOME.  
                STOP THE SPREAD.    
                                           SAVE LIVES.  
                                     STAY HOPEFUL.    
                    STAY SAFE.   
STAY HOME.

Coronavirus, like glitter, is (almost) impossible to remove.

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

In another reality,
today would have been MLB's Opening Day.   
Teams and players and fans are doing our part to stop the spread.  

Today was to be "Opening Day at Home"...
one day it will again be safe to play ball.

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

#HCWshoutout

Not all heroes wear capes.

Let's get PPE to our health care workers.

Coronavirus, like glitter, is (almost) impossible to remove.

Holly Semiloff (Ciotti)

Hi, remember ancient high school? We got on the bus, arrived at West, deposited stuff in our lockers, went to classes, bla, bla.  Well, after 36 years of teaching NORMAL high school English in Glendale CA (AP Language, AP Literature, English 10) I have to start ALL OVER with distance teaching/learning.  I am using Screencast to record stupid little videos to the kids; I am figuring out Hangouts Meetings so my AP Lit classes (like 75 kids!) can meet and discuss Matthew Arnold's "Dover Beach"; I am posting Google Doc's on Google Classroom so the AP Language kids can write an essay analyzing a letter Abigail Adams wrote her son in the 1770s.  

And I can do it all in sweat pants and sweat shirts.  I don't even have to brush my teeth (although my dad, rest his dentist bones, would disapprove), and I don't have to wait for the bell to ring to dash to the "restroom."  And I can eat chocolate the whole damn day if I feel like it.  

I should be sooooooo happy. 

But I'm not.  I miss the kids, those sneaky, lazy, show-offy, loud-mouthed, complaining teenagers that I have faced for 36 years.  (I even have a student in 10th grade whose father I had about 25 years ago -- the kid is failing English, alas.)

And the kids miss school; it's the center of their social life.  As some of the college acceptances come in, instead of a great big hug, they get a great big ---- email.

My dog, on the other hand, has never been happier.  I am around all day!!!

holly

Stewart Myrent

Holly, I'm somewhat surprised (although, maybe I shouldn't be) to hear that you have 75 students in your AP Lit class.  Seems like quite a few to me.  Or is that the norm today - 75 kids in a class?  Or is your AP Lit class that popular?  BTW, I have read 2, maybe 3, biographies of John & Abigail Adams & I have to say that Abigail Adams was one of the greatest letter writers in American history.  "Remember the ladies", she exhorted her husband & his constitutional convention cronies.  Also, be very glad that the dog is so happy, because he doen't have a clue as to why you're home all day & really doesn't care why.

Ronald I. Zager

Stewart,  Could those 75 students be in three (or four) different sections?  I doubt that they all meet at the same time in the same room.

Holly Semiloff (Ciotti)

Ha, ha, no I don't have 75 kids in one class!! This year I have three classes of AP Lit, but if I post a rich and robust discussion question, all the Lit kids would have access to it, and they could all respond to each other.  (Just thinking of it makes me dizzy.)  I think there is a feature on Google Classroom where I can have each period's kids reply only to each other -- oh for petesake, why am I going on about this???

Yes, Abigail Adams was a prolific and very articulate letter writer, and "remember the ladies" was in a letter to John while she was home, bossing the servants around, and he was off in Philadelphia (I think).  I introduced a little analysis of the word "ladies" a few years ago -- What's the difference in connotation between "lady" and "woman" ?  My years studying linguistics creeps into just about everything I teach.

holly

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

Brava Holly!  Please share the connotative difference between "lady" and "woman".