Day 4 - Teachers are eligible for the vaccine.

Although the B117 (UK) variant ravaged the UK, Boris Johnson’s decision to put at least ONE “jab” in everyone’s arm seems to be working as Covid-19 cases are dropping, lending credence to the fact that ONE dose might be enough. Does anyone consider the fact that this 2-dose model was created to line the coffers of Big Pharma [ Pfizer and Moderna]? In fact, I’m hearing whisperings that Pfizer admitted ONE dose of their vaccine is still effective.  Hmmmm

What few people are talking about, however, is the P1 variant (Brazil), found in 56 Americans thus far. Scientists believe that 76% of Manaus citizens, the first Brazilian city to be hit hard by Covid, were infected, thereby achieving that ethereal “herd immunity.” The problem is that Manaus is spiking again AND vaccines appear to have no effect on this variant.

Herd immunity was originally estimated and touted by Fauci as occurring at 60% to 70%; HOWEVER, beginning as recent as December 2020, Fauci began moving the goal post from 70%, to 75%, to 80%, to 85%.  Ok…I think we can all agree that herd immunity finally occurs when 100% of the population has either been infected or vaccinated.  In other words, herd immunity doesn’t exist.  It’s a stupid concept, created by quack science, to give the public hope. 

Depictions of the “herd immunity” model are dumb – have any of you bothered to take a look at the diagram?  It depicts a lone person who has never been infected or vaccinated, surrounded by concentric circles of people who have been infected or vaccinated.  The premise behind herd immunity is that you, the lone individual in the center of the circle, are safe because the virus is unable to jump through that many hoops (concentric circles) and get you. That is, of course, unless you’re directly speaking to a Covid carrier…then, you’re f—ked.

So, if enough cows have been infected or vaccinated, you’re the “magic cow” that won’t get sick.  Unfortunately, scientists don’t seem to know how many cows need to be infected/vaccinated to save YOU.  Is it 60% to 70%?  Oh wait…that was in September 2020.  Perhaps its 70 to 75%?  Uh, no… that was in November.  75% to 85%?  Yes…but that was in December.  We’re now in March.  Based on herd immunity estimates and the multiplication table for the number “5”, we can deduce, using scientific methods and a theory that a “5”-year-old probably made up, that herd immunity is reached when [drum roll please] 100% of the community have either been infected or vaccinated.  Please make a note of it. 

3/4/21. Thursday

9:30 –10:30 -  I’m awake. I’m not showering today so I get dressed in my Covid-19 uniform. Wash face. Brush teeth. Contacts.

I go downstairs to say good morning to the dog. She’s up and running around so we go right outside.  What a beautiful day! I’m going to get my coffee and my book and read on the patio! The dog goes potty and we return inside for her treat – chicken for her – and I unload the dishwasher and prepare to go outside.

But wait…maybe I should take a look at Module #11 for my DE course.  You know…just to see what the next assignment is so I can start thinking about it.  A little voice inside my head says, “Don’t do it.  If you log onto your computer now, you will NOT get any reading done the rest of the day.”

A few minutes won’t hurt.

10:30-4:30 – I log onto my DE course and I don’t move from my chair for the next 6 hours. I don’t even eat. The next assignment involves devising a Communications Plan regarding my online students for my Specialty 1A class. I’m ready to resubmit the Syllabus revisions…maybe I can prepare this assignment and have L. submit it at the same time, once she finally gets out of bed.

10:00-12:00 – I make some headway on my DE assignment.

-L. is up and dressed and I ask if we can submit the Syllabus revisions to the Anonymous Grader (this is a 15-minute task). She says no, she’s too busy. She has to go to the store to get ingredients for a cheese plate that she’s preparing for a birthday party on Saturday. L. has work after she goes to the store.

I say to L. that this is only a 15-minute task, that it wasn’t fair for her to tell me that the ONLY time she had available for me was MIDNIGHT yesterday.  She counters with the fact that both she and I are routinely up around 3:00 a.m. I respond that I was actually TIRED last night, at midnight…can’t she just upload this assignment now? She says no and leaves.

12:00-1:00 – I’m logged into College No. 2 so I might as well check email and see how the students are doing.  There are a few questions, but nothing major.

My Core Class runs at 6:00 and tonight is the Midterm.  I haven’t checked email at College No. 1 since Monday.  What if the students have been emailing questions about tonight’s Midterm?  I absolutely have to check email.  There are a few emails from students but nothing pertaining to the Midterm.  As a teacher I get the morning edition of the New York times every day, so I read several days work of articles I missed.  Although hardly any students emailed me, I still have 40 emails that I have to go through.  One of the emails is urgent…my Dean wants to know who has completed Distance Education training and he wants to know no later than next week.  By coincidence, I’m almost done with my DE training at College No. 2. I have the sneaking suspicion that those instructors who have had NO training whatsoever will be removed from their Asynchronous class.  Maybe I’ll be able to swoop in and take their spots!  OMG-this is great!

I send a reply email right away, wherein I lie and say my DE certification class ends next week.

1:00-3:30 – I continue working on my Communications Plan…kind of fun…I’m supposed to estimate the number of hours I will spend communicating with the students. I’ve been communicating with the students for 2 months now, so I already know.  Time Management is kind of my forte and I have all the data.  It’s just a matter of compiling it.

-L. returns home and we resubmit the Syllabus assignment. It takes 20 minutes, but the submission comes too late in the day.  Because it’s late afternoon on a Thursday, I can expect the Anonymous Grader to review my s—t next Wednesday.

– I finish my Communications Plan and submit but it’s the same problem (see above)

3:30-4:00 – Class starts at 6:00 so I check course content and ready the Discussion Board.

4:00-5:45 – I have pita crackers and hummus for lunch as I watch two episodes of Lupin. Great series!  I hope there’s another season.

5:45-9:00 – I “publish” the course content.  The students have a Midterm tonight, followed by a podcast and podcast quiz.  They will be wrapped up with the Midterm for the next hour.

6:00-6:30 – I take the dog for a walk.  There is nothing to do in the yard today.

-I send an email blast to the students telling them we will not have class next week (Spring Break)

-The Midterm ends.  I review current semester grades then send a personal email to every student who is currently getting a D or an F in the class.  I tell them the last day to withdraw with a “W” is 4/9/21.

-I take attendance.

-Three students have not taken a single Video/Podcast Quiz (there’s been four quizzes).  That means they’re NOT staying for the duration of the class, which is unacceptable.  I send a stern email informing them that the fact that they left early counts as an absence and the Attendance Policy dictates I can drop a student after just TWO absences. After reading my email, one student logs on immediately and takes the Podcast Quiz.

9:30-10:00 – I hang around and respond to a few students.  I also send a personalized email to those students who have not completed their Inquizitives – they’re failing, too.

 – L. surfaces.  She says she’s going to make gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato basil soup.  She brings me a mocktail Margarita that she made from scratch, complete with salt around the rim, and it is so f—king good ( I apologize for the profanity, but it’s that good).

10:30-11:00 – I go upstairs and try to do a Sean T. Insanity workout.  I can only make it to 20 minutes before I start seeing black dots and almost faint.  Sadly, I have to tap out.

11:00-12:00 – L. is done and the food is amazing!!!  I feel like I’m at a restaurant. I watch the last episode of Lupin.

12:00-12:30 – I desperately need a trim so L. cuts my hair.  She’s not happy about it and accuses me of “making” her do this “chore.”

12:30-2:00 – I talk to L. about the current Covid situation and vaccines.  I tell her I’m returning to the classroom in August. We discuss her future plans.  BTW: Disneyland is opening again in two weeks.

2:00-3:30 – The kitchen looks like a bomb went off.  Kitchen duty and I listen to the last episodes of To Live and Die in LA.

3:30-4:15 – Night time routine. Bed.