Dave and I were walking home from work yesterday when we passed this diagram on the sidewalk. I think it has something to do with computer science -- I recognize C++, and the phrases "standard language" and "chip specific" sound pretty tech-y. But the rest is gibberish to me. It could also be insane rambling, I suppose. I was impressed by the detail, and wondered what possessed someone to sit down (presumably?) and write it all out on the sidewalk in Sharpie.
Yesterday was our all-school staff meeting to kick off the school year. Unlike last fall, when we did it virtually, this year we all gathered once again in the school auditorium. We wore masks, and some of the meeting was about our Covid protocols, but we are clearly trying to move beyond the virus. In fact, our official theme this year is (Re)Connect, which the head of school presented with the help of a famous E.M. Forster quote, from "Howards End":
“Only connect! That was the whole of her sermon. Only connect the prose and the passion, and both will be exalted, and human love will be seen at its height. Live in fragments no longer.”Everyone has been asked to wear a mask for the first few weeks of the year, but I think that policy may be re-evaluated as time passes, especially if we don't see evidence of Covid infections in school. I believe British schools will be maskless when they re-open in a few weeks.
In the library, we're no longer quarantining books and other materials and we're once again circulating magazines, since there's no evidence that Covid spreads via contact with such objects. (We decided to cancel our physical newspapers, because they just weren't being read -- which of course makes me sad as a journalist, although we do offer everyone digital access to The New York Times through a group subscription. We may try to offer something similar for a British paper if it's available.)
We're still up in the air about how to manage student checkouts. You may remember that last year we did it all electronically -- students put books on hold and we checked them out and brought them to their classrooms. This year we'll allow the students to come in and browse for books themselves, although we might do deliveries too, depending on what everyone wants.
I'm fine about all this. I was never worried about contact with the books and once again, although I know the vaccines aren't foolproof, I fall back on the fact that I'm protected.
There's still a lot of insanity out there, though -- people who see Covid as an attempt by the "globalists" to take control. I found these stickers on recent dog walks:
I find this kind of thinking bizarrely fascinating. It requires a degree of alarmism -- paranoia, I'd argue -- that I just don't share. The Klaus Schwab quote, for example, was featured in a WEF video about the future, emphasizing that we will eventually rent rather than purchase much of what we need -- and that it will be delivered to us by drone. The example they give is tools, like drills and hammers. It seemed like a pretty harmless projection. Yet it sounds so ominous the way it's presented (out of context) on the sticker.
I joked to Dave after dinner last night: "Can you believe we have to go to work tomorrow, AGAIN?" It's hard to get back into the groove after a whole summer off.
When this never-ending pandemic began there was much concern about door handles, light switches and the cleaning of surfaces. Even now there are cleaning stations for supermarket trollies. However, it has become clearer that most infection is spread by breath. With hindsight one can deduce that lending library books would have probably been pretty safe throughout the past eighteen months. Have another lovely day at work! Ha-ha!
ReplyDeleteI think all this surface-cleaning is more for people's peace of mind that anything. It just makes us all feel better.
DeleteSorry you have to work two days in a row. I used to hate that.
ReplyDeleteIt seems to me the flier attacking a war on consciousness is in actuality the war on consciousness.
Exactly!
DeleteJust before reading your post I said to my partner that is funny how paranoid we were about surfaces in the early days of COVID, when it seems to be air born transmission.
ReplyDeleteI'm think the questioning and critical newspaper The Guardian would be a good newspaper to have available at the library.
I have no patience at all with antivaxxers, COVID hoax and those who want the freedom to infect others. We had a large protest march here last weekend against our lockdown. Tossers.
What is this work thing you mention? From September 2019 to March 2020, I was living the dream of retirement. Then it all went wrong.
Andrew, not all who question the machinations of the vaccine are ANTI vaccines. I'd call myself a hesitant. Stone me now. Or, if you prefer, burn me at the stake.
DeleteAnd please don't fall into the trap: Even if you have received vaccination you can still infect others. Just as the vaccinated can still be infected. Which is why I still adhere to the two meter distancing rule, wear a mask when in a closed environment (say, a shop) and detest people who think because they are vaxxed they are "safe" and then make it a free for all.
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Andrew: I saw that story about the protesters in Melbourne. I completely agree about anti-vaxxers. Some of the people who have argued against it have then gone on to contract Covid and die. What does it take for people to realize the benefit outweighs the (mis)perceived danger?
DeleteUrsula: When I got the vaccine the nurses were very clear that it would not protect me 100 percent, because no vaccine is 100 percent effective. I think they try very hard to make that point with everyone so we'll continue to be responsible.
Ursula, I must be reasonably well informed as I know and understand all you are saying but the statistics if are true, vaccines give you great protection against catching the virus, transmitting the virus if you have it to others and you are far less likely to become seriously ill. That is the best on offer at the moment. My partner and myself are fully vaccinated but as our state has prescribed, we still wear masks outside of home and we keep our distance from people. We sanitise our hands often. We spend minimal time inside necessary shops. Being vaccinated is one extra and very good precaution so far as I am know.
DeleteSteve, the protesters it seems were mostly angry young men, far right, white power and second generation immigrants They dislike modern society and yet sit back and take what it has to offer. It is very sad to see some otherwise respectable and intelligent people participating too.
DeleteYou find the most interesting things to photograph on your walks, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThere's a lot of peculiar stuff out there! Part of living in a big city, I guess.
DeleteThings get worse by the day at the schools here. I hope your year continues to be safe and mostly Covid free!
ReplyDeleteI'll be interested to see how we fare. I think our overall numbers are lower than they have been recently in the states, but as I understand it they're creeping up.
DeleteI suppose that is one way to write a note to yourself. Masking/non-masking in schools, here, has turned education into a free-for-all. I really feel for kids in these times - focusing on studies is difficult enough for them, without all the drama and chaos. I am vaccinated but still follow most protocols - safe distancing, wearing a mask inside public venues. While I know that being vaccinated will not protect me completely, I feel pretty confident it will lessen the effects if I contract Covid or the variant. Still...err on the side of caution is my motto these days.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way about my vaccine -- it's not foolproof but it's given me a huge degree of confidence that if I do get sick, I won't get AS sick.
DeleteThat “government health advice” looks very professionally done. Must be quite an organized group cranking (in every sense of the word) those out.
ReplyDeleteNot owning anything by 2030? Not much time left - I’d better start downsizing!
Some right-wing websites advancing these ideas have designed stickers that can be downloaded and printed at home, and then affixed around town. It's how they spread their crazy hoax message. I'm all for NOT owning anything! Bring it on!
DeleteI picture two nerdy science guys walking down a sidewalk arguing about something, and one takes out a Sharpie and gives his explanation the pavement.
ReplyDeleteAs for the anti-vaxxers who think this is a way for the world to control you, the world already controls you by that device you carry in your hand. It knows everything about you. Big Brother is right there.
But...on the pavement?! Do they sit down together on the sidewalk? You'd think they'd write on a wall or another elevated surface. And yes, our phones know all.
DeleteAnd meanwhile, here in America, in the state of Mississippi which has the second lowest vaccine rate in the states, health officials are begging people to stop taking a medication which is supposed to rid livestock of parasites as an alternative treatment for covid.
ReplyDeleteAlso, a child in the Leon school system has died of covid.
We are not handling this well here. To say the least. Instead of thinking about not needing masks, we are having to shut down schools completely again.
If people would just get their vaccines and use common sense when it comes to masking and social distancing. But no. That inhibits their freedoms.
I heard that about Mississippi, but I didn't hear about the kid in Leon County. Scary! I don't understand this insistence on freedom at the expense of community.
DeleteThat formula is very interesting. Is it BIOS to OJ (Simpson? Orange Juice?) to Human, or the other way around? I'm kind of bugged by the use of "instil" - that's a typo, right? Or do they not use the second l in the UK?
ReplyDeleteLOL -- I thought it said "OJ" too! But Kevin (below) says it's "OS," like operating system, which makes much more sense. "Instil" is a British spelling.
DeleteHope you have a happy, healthy school year, Steve.
ReplyDeleteIt is hard not to get discouraged here with the constant fight about Covid rules and all of the misinformation that is spread. So sad and depressing!
I wish people could think about what's best for the common good, rather than worrying so much about what's best for themselves individually.
DeleteI must go back and read Future Shock again and see how wild things look today.
ReplyDeleteI have NEVER read that book! Maybe I should take a look at it!
DeleteI hope all goes well with the re-opening of things in this new school year. I think it's smart for everyone to stay masked up while inside classrooms and libraries. The rise in cases as schools reopen here is pretty alarming. Stay safe there.
ReplyDeleteI agree -- kids are still a largely unvaccinated population so it makes sense for us to maintain masking and other protocols.
DeleteI agree, wearing masks while indoors is smart. It would be nice to see everyone doing this whenever they cannot distance. At least for now. You'll get in the routine of being back to work soon enough. Enjoy your day, hugs, Edna B.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it doesn't take long for everything to feel routine again!
DeleteGood luck with your school year good riddance to all the nonsense protocols - not all of them, but to those are clearly no longer needed or of such limited value that they foster a lingering concern that is ultimately harmful. Let's move from fear to freedom - and (re)connect indeed.
ReplyDeleteWell, as I wrote in my subsequent post, I think we may in fact continue some of those protocols. Like many places, we're struggling to determine what's nonsense and what's not!
Deletewhoever wrote that diagram on the sidewalk was probably trying to explain something to someone. that's how it strikes me because I will, when frustrated by a failed attempt to draw a visual picture for someone, will just grab a piece of paper and sketch it out.
ReplyDeleteand I do not understand how people can fall into that rabbit hole of complete denial of the science and embracing paranoia conspiracy theory. you can show these people proof after proof that what they believe is ridiculous and they will never accept it. all their denial and superstition is going to get them is a case of covid.
A lot of people get into these Internet chat rooms where they talk only to people who feel as they do, and they all reinforce each other in the face of all external evidence. (Which they believe is biased anyway.)
DeleteThe diagram seems to show basic computer architecture and the the levels that common computer languages run at.
ReplyDeleteI can't make out all of the writing, but from left to right: controller chips on the motherboard, BIOS (the low-level operating system for your computer hardware which you see when you start your PC), OS (the operating system such as Windows that allows people to interact with the computer), and Human.
Languages on the diagram, from low-level (closer to hardware) to high-level (closer to human), include Machine (aka Assembly), C, API (a program's interface for other components to use), C++, PHP (web scripting)/(Python misspelled?)/SQL (database query language).
That's my interpretation, at least.
I am SO GLAD you explained that. It makes perfect sense. I wonder what conversation someone was having that made them draw this out on the sidewalk? Maybe they were doing their homework?
DeleteI do wonder at all the people who believe in all these conspiracy theories. The fact that they think there is a cabal of people organized enough to pull off sweeping control of the population is laughable. I recently heard a man about my same age tell someone else that this whole COVID think is a big hoax. When asked about all the people who have died, he said they've been counting normal deaths as COVID. Who the heck is they? That would mean that doctor's all over the world have joined together to create false death certificates. My gut tells me you couldn't get four doctors to agree on how to treat an ulcer let alone come together to fool the rest of us.
ReplyDeleteI know -- it's so laughable! Anyone who's ever served on a committee (or a condo or co-op board) knows how hard it is to get even five people to agree on basic, simple things. Managing a huge conspiracy like this?! They've got to be kidding!
DeleteWhile I have little patience for people who fall down the rabbit holes of conspiracy theories, I have a strong suspicion that, at some level, it's a fundamental response to feeling helpless and not being able to control forces that are having a huge impact on people's lives.
ReplyDeleteI have a family member that went all-in on flat earth theories... it was quite disconcerting to see this happen to someone you care about. But what I got from all his FB ranting was a sense that he had information that most people don't have and/or refuse to believe in. There seemed to be a lot of power in embracing that "secret knowledge." It allowed him to make sense of things, even though it was a pretty warped vision.
Throw in the camaraderie that comes along with finding other "true believers" and you have a potent recipe.
Between the Great Recession and the opioid epidemic, a huge number of people have been allowed to fall through the cracks and are barely getting by; meanwhile, those with the power and means are doing better than ever. It's no wonder that people are flocking to these powerful narratives, as kooky as they seem.
You're absolutely right. Conspiracy thinking makes people feel empowered and knowledgeable, especially when they're otherwise powerless. I saw an article to that effect somewhere not too long ago. It also makes them feel connected, part of something bigger than themselves -- because they feel so disconnected from mainstream society.
DeleteIt all depends on where in the world you are as to the status of Covid. Where I live, there is still a low vaccination rate and the hospitals are packed with seriously ill unvaccinated people. Heaven forbid someone need a hospital for any other reason, like stroke or heart attack. In my opinion, the huge pool of unvaccinated people has allowed the Delta virus to run rampant, causing more vaccinated people (like me!) to get breakthrough cases. I'm in my final day of quarantine and totally credit being vaccinated for keeping my case from being serious. (and yes, I was always careful to wear a mask and keep my distance) As for masks... now "they" are saying nothing other than an N95 really provides any protection, that the airborne virus can get through anything else. I think the media just wants us all to be frightened and filled with doom and gloom! I try to follow the science and do what's necessary, but geez...
ReplyDeleteHow's the sunflower doing? We need another photo of it!
I hadn't heard that about masks. I think the articles I most recently read said even a makeshift face covering is better than nothing -- but that was a while ago. I'm glad you're vaccinated, anyway! More sunflower photos eventually, I promise. :)
DeleteHumans - so arrogant, reading shite on the world wide web deciding that they know more about the science of it all. But that is how we roll, though history of human ignorance. Masks are worn up here as part of our getting dressed in the morning, most are vaccinated, though the delta variant is making folks ill but not dead! This whole covid thing is just practice I reckon. The crybabies may die off. Who knows but I feel that we who are able must do all we can to protect those who are compromised , Children who can not yet get a vaccine and folks who have immune issues. No brainer.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing that so many people are dismissive of real education and experience, and believe that THEY have the power to figure out what's REALLY going on even though they have no training whatsoever.
DeleteI read the other day that we will all eventually get Covid. Could that be true?
ReplyDeleteI think it will be like the flu, constantly evolving and working around the protections we create. So, yes, that may eventually be true. But I think it won't be as serious for those of us who have SOME protection via vaccines.
DeleteWhat is amazing to me is the number of people who believe the statements on that last sticker.
ReplyDeleteI know! And they feel strongly enough that they print out and plaster stickers everywhere, preaching their craziness!
DeleteI'm finished with my second full day of classes and am completely exhausted. Hopefully, I'll revive as I get into the groove. I sort of like the Klaus Schwab thing. I'm ready to ditch it all.
ReplyDeleteI agree! The idea of owning nothing sounds fantastic to me! The first few weeks of school are always a trial, getting back into the swing of things -- as well as the last few weeks, when we're all so tired. Hang in there! :)
DeleteThere's talk about a third shot now, since after 3 months Pfizer apparently is down to 74% and Moderna to 65% effectiveness?!o
ReplyDelete