Conavirus......

[bae]

Are you saying lawn gnomes because they "work" from home? Yeah, I see how hard those working from home work. About as hard as a lawn gnome. Gnome is a good term for those who don't want to go back to the classroom but sit on their lawn with a laptop, though zoombie is pretty good too.

You know... I spent the last teaching year, during the pandemic, sitting next to a 4th grade teacher who was working from my home, teaching in a bilingual program. Watching the trials and tribulations of the class and the teaching staff was quite educational. None of these teachers want to "sit on the lawn with a laptop", and almost all were quite keen to return to in-person instruction ASAP (except one of the teaching staff who was immunocompromised).

I spent the last 3 weeks on a road trip with one of these teachers, and a frequent cause of concern and anxiety was getting back to in-person instruction this coming year, and how that would happen. Almost no conversation along the lines of "gee, it'd be nice to drink fruit drinks on the deck while pretending to work).

You should try facts someday, they are pretty enlightening.

[Jane v2.0]

Chris Hayes had a piece on the governor of Vermont, Phil Scott, a popular Republican governor in a liberal state. It's heartening that old-timey pols like him exist in today's GOP.

[iris lilies]

I can’t imagine teaching a classroom of kids through a laptop. Oy. And then all the variations have to be even worse such as some are being taught long distance and some in class. I’m sure classroom teachers want to get back into the classroom. That’s why vaccines and masks are essential so that they can educate kids the most effectively.

[Chicken lady]

If they try to make me teach online again I will quit.

[jp1]

Vermont is the best state in the country - best vaccination percent, best adolescent vaccination percentage, lowest hospitalizations, so few cases no restrictions have been put back in place, and the only part of the state with substantial transmission is Burlington. Some parts of the state are rated low risk and most are !moderate. But instead of celebrating since the CDC is only warning about areas of substantial or high risk, this week the Vermont Department of Education recommended universal masking in schools. Who do you think is behind that? Hint: if you're following evidence and facts then it sure ain't the scientists.

It's vermont. Duh. It must be ben and jerry. As long as they let me have a good chocolate ice cream and don't make me eat chunky monkey with the nasty banana flavor, I'm good.

But seriously, 18 months into this and you refuse to accept that masks matter just because you effing hate them. You should just admit that you HATE MASKS AND DONT CARE IF THEY SAVE PEOPLES LIVES.

Honesty is the best policy Jeppy. Admit that you don't care about other people's health and you will be much happier. We will all probably choose to stay far away from you but maybe you will be good with that.

[bae]

Honesty is the best policy Jeppy. Admit that you don't care about other people's health and you will be much happier. We will all probably choose to stay far away from you but maybe you will be good with that.

I have observed that the sort of Jeppy-behaviour in my community has discouraged first responders and front-line medical folks from having any enthusiasm in their jobs, and has contributed to a reduction in our numbers.

I myself am also about to wash my hands of the whole thing, and just enjoy my life. This is of course a tremendously privileged position to take. I'm OK with that.

[Yppej]

Masks don't save lives, distancing does. When my governor aka dictator ordered me to wear a mask when walking by myself in the woods how many lives did it save? None. Squirrels and other animals are smart enough to keep six feet away from people and humans could master this skill too if they wanted to. But they want to crowd together in airplanes for nonessential travel, etc. Study the size the covid particles and the porousness of masks. Then look at how people actually wear masks, under their noses or tucked under their chins. It's no surprise that by relying on masks we have recurring covid outbreaks.

It is the maskers who need to be honest and face reality, but they can't resist the urge to crowd up against other people. Employer vaccine mandates are coming into play. That and not masks should get us to the end of this.

[bae]

This is why we can't have nice things.

[Klunick]

My county falls within the CDC guidelines recommending mask indoors in public places regardless of vaccination status. I did my routine weekly shopping early yesterday and did not notice any signs requiring or recommending masks. I wore one anyway but did not see many mask wearers. I still try to avoid any big shopping crowds with timely shopping and can get most of my shopping done in a couple of hours or so once a week. It doesn't seem like any big deal after wearing one for so long earlier.

That's the thing. I only wore one for 30 minutes once a week when I went to the grocery store. Didn't wear one at work and didn't go any place that required one. I think stores will have a hard time getting people to put masks back on and they know it so they won't say anything. At least where I live. People in my County and the neighboring one weren't subjected to wearing masks very much.

[Klunick]

I acknowledge that I must be in the minority to think that the CDC and Fauci have done a fairly reasonable job. Certainly not perfect, but reasonable. The rules have changed when they've learned more or collected more data, or now with the variants, but it comes off as crying wolf. They've given the best case rules and guidelines as things have changed. It's more the people who have failed, either by expressing some form of personal freedom or subscribing to disinformation. Most of the restrictions on masks or social gatherings have been up to local authorities.

I do think it might be time for Fauci to step down. Under the theory you can't please all of the people all of the time he's pretty much disappointed everyone at some time and is starting to come off as a government figurehead. It would be good to wipe the slate clean with a new face and fresh presentations.

I would love if Dr Ashish Jha would replace Fauci. He tells it like it is and is honest when he thinks the media/CDC/Biden/anyone is over-reacting. He is also the only one who my husband doesn't scream at through the TV so the more I can see of him, the better for me. Haha!!