Living in coronavirusworld 12: medics and outlaws

4/4

waiting for groceries

As I walk around outside, seeing all the people in masks, it looks like we’re a nation of medics and outlaws. 

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Today is the anniversary of  the death of Martin Luther King, Jr.  In Memphis to support the striking sanitation workers, we now know he stepped out on the balcony for a quick smoke and that was it. I think of Dr. King as for the second straight day, nurses and other medical workers stage an action  at Mt. Sinai Hospital.   (https://www.democracynow.org/2020/4/3/nyc_frontline_medical_workers_ppe_protest) 

My friend Tre Kwon is one of the organizers. A new mother, she was called back from (unpaid) maternity leave because of the demands of the crisis.  Nurses are used to long hours, double shifts and low pay. What they are not prepared to accept is lack of personal protective equipment. In one Bronx hospital, workers were handed Yankee Stadium giveaway ponchos as “protective covering” as but one  bizarre example. The workers are demonstrating for adequate PPE and no retaliation for those who have raised their voices and been punished for it. So yesterday it was Montefiore, today Mt. Sinai and Monday,Harlem Hospital. Strangely, the Nurses Union has remained silent. Yeah, medics and outlaws…

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A Dr. Anthony Fauci bobblehead doll is in production and available for presale.  (https://store.bobbleheadhall.com/products/drfauci))

                  

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1100 ventilators from China.  117 from Oregon. And a million masks from the NBA (Thank you Brooklyn Nets!)

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The day begins with standing in a line to gain entry to the grocery store.  With appropriate social distancing, of course.  Luckily, Le Patiserrie Des Ambassades, one of the best things about French African Harlem, across the street is still serving pastries, my first since this began. I take my pastry then take my place. 

I’ve been on Morningside Park hundreds of times and until yesterday had never seen the somewhat odd statue of the bear and faun. Apparently it's been there since 1918. 

Bear and faun

I’m getting closer to  wearing a mask. A western bandana is tied around my neck ready to go OG outlaw at any moment.  A casual survey of the park looks about 50/50. My walking partner arrives at the Morningside pond with a box of sterile wipes for me. She had started with a Do It Yourself mask from that internet video....(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1r2C1zGUHbU&list=RDCMUCtQVy5IY7TjSBMo-lGigfnQ&fbclid=IwAR3dU52dq_UrovGe7e9RGkS34kOxnonKauLyiKkAYBNWC8l8noVDdr8jnb4) . )

Unfortunately, the mask fogged her glasses and she couldn’t see.   So…unmasked it is.  Seems the Department of Ed has decided to cancel spring break. It’s easy to forget our teachers are still out there partcipating in remote learning every day. And Mayor Di Blasio has even called for school to be in session on Passover and Good Friday, as allowed by the State. Concerned about keeping the kids busy. Your highest paid babysitters, she  says. To add to it, while most classes are now being taught on ZOOM, the DOE has just learned of the highly publicized security issues the have emerged with ZOOM.  Issues ZOOM is already adding security measures to address. So teachers are being asked to use other platforms, and inform parents who’ve just gotten used to ZOOM. Or utilize audio only transmissions, which translates to conference calls. One tries to imagine a conference call with a room full of 4th graders. And no classes to be missed for an instructive webinar the subject. And so education continues…..