Please share this around – we are none of us alone; we are all connected. You never know who’s lives you’ll change with your words.
Funerals are not for the dead; they are for the living.
If we are to believe in the afterlife, we believe that they are already in a better place, A place where the beauty of the flowers, the churches, and the songs pale by comparison. The love they feel far outweighs the love they feel from those in attendance of their comital.
Funerals are not for the dead; they are for the living.
If we are to believe that there is no afterlife, then they are already gone. The end. Fin. They will not feel the love, appreciate the flowers, or hear the songs. Those in attendance will tell stories, feel the sweet release of a good cry, and maybe – just maybe – gain some semblance of closure. But those who have died will reap nothing.
Funerals are not for the dead; they are for the living.
Today, we gather to celebrate their contributions to the enrichment of our lives. We are there to comfort each other; to try to make sense of the loss of their light in our world. We fortify ourselves against the pain of their passing with hugs and sweet words of our loved ones, and words of our faiths.
Funerals are not for the dead; they are for the living.
My aunt passed away today and amidst the concerns for the containment of CoVID-19, we are not permitted to attend the funeral. We want everyone to be safe.
Funerals are not for the dead; they are for the living.
I love you, Aunt Netta, and I will always miss your light.
Look, we’ve all been inundated with the news, no matter how hard we do try to stay away from the (rightful) fear-mongering and the moment by moment coverage of this year’s current enemy COVID-19.
The information I am gathering is primarily from the WHO and the CDC, at this particular moment, but should the information below become obsolete, you must let me know – becky@backtogether.com
One of the reasons I write these resource pages so religiously and with as much information as I can find is because I truly believe that knowledge is power, and the more you know about your disease/mental illness/physical illness/feelings/loss, the better you can feel in control. Is this page going to be a binkie? Will it make it all okay?
I wish.
But it’s a start, it’s not going to be alarmist, and I’m imagining that you’ll not see the same version twice as this is a relatively new virus and information is consistently changing. I’m asking you to please email me (don’t bother DMing me – I suck at it – ask anyone) if you see something incorrect or something to be changed: becky@bandbacktogether.com
Let’s start at the beginning:
What In The Hell *IS* The Corona Virus?
First and foremost, let me assure the thousands of people who actually dumped out perfectly good beer that this virus is not, in fact, related to Corona Beer.
And while Coronavirus (CoV) sounds kicky enough, it turns out that it’s not really it’s real name (LIAR). The virus we’re dealing with is from the FAMILY of coronaviruses, and all of these viruses are kinda assholes. This family of asshole viruses can cause anything from the normal boring cold to much more severe disease, such as the particularly kickily named SARS-CoV (Severe Acute Respiratory System)(REMEMBER ME!?! – sorry, the virus was talking.) the very highly specifically named MERS-CoV (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome).
May I just, *ahem* say that if there’s an opening for naming viruses, call me the fuck up, because these are LAME NAMES.
I want to squeeze you and love you and make you my own.
While SARS-CoV came from adorable adorable million-dollar cat pooping coffee bean machines, the MERS-CoV has been passed from dromedary camels – which are decidedly NOT cute – to humans.
I don’t this is really where its pee goes, but what do I know?
There are a couple of known coronaviruses are circulating in animals that have not yet infected humans. Ugly animals, keep your stinking coronaviruses away from us!
Where Did Its Exceedingly Stupid Name Come About?
Okay, so the international committee who names viruses (of which I should be chairman of the board), has actually named the new coronavirus “SARS-CoV-2” due to its genetic ties to the SARS-CoV disease. This is where it gets kinda confusing because people are calling ALL of the the things either coronavirus or CoVID-19. I can make you a comparison that should make it slightly less confusing.
People who get infected with the virus Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) do not have AIDS, but HIV infection CAN lead an infected person to develop Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
People who are exposed to SARS-CoV-2 CAN develop full-blown CoVID-19; but they may not.
Many other types of pathogens do travel through an intermediary animal reservoir -> bats infect other animals -> humans make some type of contact with the animal infected by the bat and -> go on to infect other people.
At this time, we know little about how SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted, where along the food (or outside) chain the virus mutated to be transmissible to humans, or even how the virus is currently being transmitted from person to person.
In the wake of the news that this virus (probably – remember, we do NOT know the whole story) may have originated from the Wuhan, the capital of Hubei in China, there has been an uptick in violence against people who come from China. Because THAT’S gonna help anything.
Working at the Band for nearly 10 (10!) years, I’ve seen a lot of stigma I’d assumed would take eons to change, do so overnight. But when people are scared and feel helpless? Some of us turn our anger outward. It’s not fair and it’s not right so let’s just stop being angry at people on public trans.
If you’re mad at someone? Take a look around to see who’s actually “managing” (or not) the cases in the US and abroad and see what kind of job they’re doing. See who’s lying to you about basic information: Despite the head pats and there-there’s of the current president of my country, you know as well as I do that things are simply NOT OKAY right now. They will be. When? I’m not psychic.
/steps off soapbox
Okay, So Get Down And Dirty With Me: How Does These Asshole Coronaviruses Work?
I did mention above that knowledge is power and I know about 98% of you tuned me out just now, but this is important. Knowing our enemy is the only way we can learn to defeat it.
Time to get all eye of the motherfucking tiger on this shit.
Coronaviruses have 4 categories (told you scientists need a bit more pizzaz!):
Alpha & Beta coronaviruses generally infect and reside in mammals, while Gamma & Delta are pretty much into infecting birds.
First isolated in the 1960s in humans, coronaviruses were considered pretty mild – generally, were you to get infected, you’d end up with a cold. No biggie. That is, until the really nasty coronaviruses mutated to allow for infection from animals to humans. Whoopee!
Now viruses cannot live forever without a host, which is why they must mutate if they want to survive, and it’s important to remember that the length of time that a virus can stay virulent (sorta like a robot) can last from moments to days, to months. As we’re not really sure what’s going on with Covid-19, we are currently unsure about how long it can survive on… say a doorknob.
So what can I tell you about the coronavirus that’ll help you understand it more completely.?
Coronaviruses are single-stranded RNA viruses that are encapsulated in a studded (ha) protein membrane.
Think of these viral as the asshole biker gang that goes into the bar and beats up everyone for… breathing? So these studded asshole biker gang viruses get into your body, they bastards attach their proteins to our own host cells, who are doing nothing but listening to bad music at the bar, and out of nowhere – because they’re greedy fuckers – they dump their OWN viral RNA into your own cell’s nucleus, which turns it into a zombie, churning out more and more of these bastard biker dude viral cells. Shitty bar music stops, your own cells join the nasty virus biker gang and set out to kick some innocent ass.
This is how the infection begins.
So how bad can it get? What factors determine how many bastard biker viral cells are made into our body and how sick will they make us? This depends upon a few things.
Less serious types of coronaviruses – such as the ones who cause the boring common cold – often attach their viral biker genes in higher places in your respiratory tract; like your throat or your nose. But the fucking bad asshole biker viruses ride on down deep into your lungs and bronchial tubes, overwhelming your poor innocent cells and leading to increasingly serious infections.
Another factor that can lead to different symptoms and severity is the genes involved. Different proteins mean different genes and scientists believe that the virulent (bad-ass biker fuckheads) viruses might have better and more efficient ways of attaching themselves to our host cells. Some of these SARS-CoV-2 strains have developed mutated proteins that can attack your immune system – so when your immune system goes on the attack, you actually become sicker.
Here’s the down and dirty: we don’t yet know a lot about the mutated strains of SARS-CoV-2.
I will update this as I locate more credible information. As always, email me if/when you find more (credible) information: becky@bandbacktogether.com
What Are The Five Phases Of Infections?
Sounds boring, but I promise you, as we learn more about CoVAD-19, you’ll need to know this information, so bear with me:
The incubation period happens after a person is infected with a disease – and the pathogen (in this case, a virus) begins to multiply inside of us. During the incubation period, there aren’t enough viruses or infected cells to cause any symptoms in you, so you don’t know that you’re actually ill. These incubation periods can vary from hours, to days, to months, to years based on the pathogen. In this case, the incubation period of CoVAD-19 is unknown and whomever has the disease is completely unaware. Per the WHO, most estimates of the incubation period for COVID-19 range from 1-14 days, but most are commonly seen around five days. These estimates will, obviously, updated as we learn more.
During the next stage of infections, called the prodromal period, the pathogen, in our case CoVAD-19, keeps on doing it’s multiplying thing, your immune system kicks in, and you start to feel kinda sick. The symptoms you’re feeling though, they’re not major and you can easily write them off as a cold or allergies. Some people report a high fever, malaise (sleepiness), and a dry cough. Others have reported aches and pains, head congestion, sore throat, and a runny nose, but the onset is gradual.
The next stage of infectious diseases is followed by a period of illness, in which symptoms become increasingly severe. This is likely when someone who has CoVAD-19 would seek hospital treatment
Following the period of illness, is a period of decline. It is during this period that people who have infectious diseases, such as CoVAD may experience secondary infections due to their weakened immune system. Their weakened immune system may make it harder and harder to fight off the CoVAD-19 virus, and some people will die during this period.
The final period of an infectious illness is called the period of convalescence, in which the person will very, very slowly (generally) returns to normal, although some studies have indicated that certain types of CoVAD-19 may inflict permanent damage that the body cannot fully repair.
What Are The Symptoms Of The Coronavirus?
At the time of this writing, this is more nebulous territory, but I will go on with what I’ve learned from the WHO, because it’s what I have right now.
Since we are mostly unaware of the stages of infectious diseases as shown above as this is a relatively new virus, this is what I’ve pieced together from the WHO website.
The most common symptoms that appear in those infected may include:
A dry cough
A fever,
Tiredness
Other people have reported symptoms like:
Nasal congestion
Sore throat
Runny nose
Body aches and pains
Diarrhea
Generally, these symptoms come about gradually and get worse. Current estimates are that about 1 in 6 people who becomes infected by CoVID-19 becomes seriously ill enough to need medical help to remain breathing. According to most recent estimates, 80% of people who are infected recover from the CoVid
Some of those who are infected by CoVID-19 don’t always develop symptoms.
Okay, So How Do I Get Coronavirus? Like, How Does It Spread?
Sighs.
This is the part I wanted to avoid discussing, but here we are so here we go.
While initially thought to be transmitted through a fecal-oral mode of transmission (maybe THAT’s the reason for the TP shortage?), that’s simply too easy to combat and wouldn’t account for the ever-mounting death toll. It is now thought highly unlikely that anyone could catch CoVID-19 through the fecal-oral route.
No, the latest evidence that the WHO has is that the COVID-19 is transmitted through the air. Meaning that if you’re in contact with someone who has COVID-19, this virus can be spread one of two ways:
From the passage of droplets of mucous from the nose and/or mouth spread by the person who has COVAD-19 coughing or sneezing near you. You snort those droplets up and BOOM – infection. TLDR: Stay 3-6 feet AWAY from the a person who is sick.
Since the virus (as of yet) doesn’t have tiny drones flying these droplets into your nose and mouth, so the cough or sneeze from an infected person lands on surfaces around them. When someone goes to touch these droplets (we don’t yet know how long the virus is able to live on inanimate surfaces), then touches their mouth, eyes, or nose can pick up this nasty bug. TLDR: Wash your damn hands, DRY THEM PROPERLY TOO, and stop touching your face.
Okay, so how long can it live on surfaces? The WHO (like the rest of us) isn’t quite sure, but based upon what they know about similar coronaviruses, CoVID-19 may last from a few hours to several days – all depending upon environmental circumstances. Again, this is going to need to be updated. OH, and in the meanwhile, wipe-down anywhere you expect that someone might have coughed or sneezed with a disinfectant and wash your damn hands.
Can I Catch CoVID-19 From Someone Who Is Asymptomatic?
Good question and one the health experts (NO, NOT ME, ACTUAL SMART PEOPLE), aren’t quite sure of as of this writing.
As the virus is thought to have spread through respiratory (nose, mouth) droplets from someone who has symptoms to someone who does not, is thought of AS OF RIGHT THIS SECOND AS I AM TYPING THIS to be low.
If you have have to go to work, ignore the rest of what I’m saying.
Before you go all YOLO-ing around in big drunken groups, assuming that you’re invincible, like a bunch of fucking assholes, listen carefully:
In the early stages of the disease CoVAD-19, your symptoms may match that of a common cold or allergies. So you DO NOT KNOW if you have the disease, and if you do? You’re coughing and sneezing all over other people (even if you’re feeling YOLO) and you may infect them.
(again, if you’ve gotta work, you’ve gotta work.)
Yeah. Way to be a fucking asshole, asshole.
(if you can) STAY HOME.
You SAID This Was Probably Caused By An Animal That Transferred It To A Human. Is That A Lie?
Okay, this I did say, because this is typically how Coronaviruses work and it’s VERY likely that our very own CoVID-19 was transmitted by an animal to a human.
But does that mean FIDO or PUSS n BOOTS is okay?
Most likely.
There’s a suspected case in China where a dog got sick from CoVID-19 (MAYBE), but have yet to see this anywhere else.
Let’s Do Some Busting Of Myths:
Every time a new disease pops up, there are a zillion million myths that spring up to help symptoms and/or prevent us from getting the disease. Sometimes, desperate people even buy into them. From the WHO, here are some common CoVID-19 myths debunked:
Myth Says:
Science Says:
You can't catch CoVID-19 in really hot and humid places.
False: Science Says that CoVID-19 doesn't care about the climate.
You can't catch CoVID-19 in cold, freezing temps.
Science Says: yet again, CoVID-19 doesn't seem to give a crap about the temperature of its enviornment
Mosquitoes transmit CoVID-19
Science Says: Nope. This new virus is spread by respiratory droplets from human to human and does not (at the time of this publish) transmit through blood.
CoVID-19
Aunt Becky LOVES garlic, but science says that while garlic might have some anti-microbial properties, we have no evidence that it can prevent transmission of CoVID-19.
Taking a REALLY hot bath kills CoVID-19.
Science woefully admits that not only does taking a really hot bath not protect you whatsoever from the coronavirus, it also can burn you.
Those UV disinfectant lamps can be used to kill CoVID-19 on my skin.
Science says? Not only will it not kill the virus on your skin, it will also irritate your skin, leaving you open to other infections.
Surely, spraying my whole body with alcohol, chlorine, or bleach should kill CoVID-19... right?
Science Says: alcohol, chlorine, and/or bleach will not help you once the virus has entered your body. These supplies are used to disinfect surfaces, not people.
Okay: are there specific meds that I can take to prevent infection by CoVID-19?
Science Says: currently, no, but scientists are working around the clock trying to create a vaccine or other medicines that may help prevent infection of CoVID-19.
Should I stockpile old antibiotics?
Science Says: No. Antibiotics work for bacterial infections only; they do not work for viruses, such as CoVID-19.
I'm young, healthy, strong, and I've got no medical issues. YOLO, RIGHT?
Science Says: STOP RIGHT THERE. While it appears that older people and people who are already ill are more susceptible to CoVID-19, no one is immune to this virus. Stay home. Don't infect other people.
Okay, should I rinse out my nose with saline several times a day to prevent infection with CoVID-19?
Science Says: There's currently no evidence that this would help prevent infection by CoVID-19.
This year I got my flu shot AND my pneumonia vaccine. I'm in the clear, right?
Science Says: We wish. We really, really do. The vaccinations you have received should protect you from some types of viruses, but as of this publishing, no vaccines for CoVID-19 have been developed.
I added a few graphics because the illustrations tickled me – not because any one is any more important than the other.
We need all the rib tickling we can get right now.
COVID-19 gotcha down with all of the talk about social distancing and self-quarantining? Wee ones driving you crazy? Teenagers sulking, moody and complaining of boredom? Looking for *FREE* educational resources to keep your offspring amused and entertained? Looking for ways to expand your horizons outside of your personal bubble?
The Band Back Together Project has you covered! Whatever floats your boat, we have a resource for you. See the extensive list below and check back often. We’ll update it as we receive additional suggestions. Don’t see your favorite free resource listed? Email Ann and she’ll add it.
General
Digital Public Library of Art (DPLA): DPLA connects people to the riches held within America’s libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural heritage institutions. Diverse materials including photographs, books, maps, news footage, oral histories, personal letters, museum objects, artwork, government documents
FarmFood 360: Virtual tours of 11 different kinds of farms Khan Academy: Lots of topics broken down by age and subject
Curriki: Best curriculum, lessons and on-demand content free, open, and accessible to all
Prodigy Math Games: Math game battles to earn points by solving math problems. Free! The home page makes it look like you have to pay for membership but there’s a “play free” button up in the corner to bypass that
Resource Bank – Math: Hub features a variety of collections to assist teachers, students and parents in developing mathematical skills, concepts and understanding
English Language Arts (ELA)
Storyline Online: Your favorite children’s books read by celebrities
Scholastic Reading Learn at Home Activities: Every day includes four separate learning experiences, each built around a thrilling, meaningful story or video. Kids can do them on their own, with their families, or with their teachers. Updated daily.
Humanities / Social Studies
iCivics: Games – Branches of Power, Court Quest, Immigration Nation, Race to Ratify, SupHouse
Memorica – Mexico: Explore, investigate, filter, examine, discover and understand archives that are part of the cultural heritage of Mexico
Virtual Museum of Migration: The Virtual Migration Museum tells the story of migration in 3D. Visitors can move through a fictional urban landscape where they can enter and explore different buildings, each with a unique theme. In these buildings, the visitor can learn more about a range of topics, including work, culture and education. The stories are illustrated with items taken from the DOMiD collections. Additionally, visitors can also travel through time by switching between three different periods
Latino Virtual Museum (Smithsonian): Empowers a greater understanding and deeper appreciation for the enduring contributions of Latinos to our country. Preserves a growing collection of diverse stories and experiences that reflect Latino presence in our history and culture, and convenes conversations, inclusively, about the stories and connections that continue to inspire generations to come
Girl Museum: Girl Museum is the first museum in the world dedicated to girlhood. We are a virtual museum for exhibitions, education, and raising awareness about girls and girlhood globally. We are also an information platform for social/cultural dialogue and investigation. We research and collect cross-cultural historic and contemporary images and stories from and about girlhood around the world. Through exhibitions, publications, and projects, we explore and document the unique experience of being born and growing up female.
Exter Time Trail: Exeter has one of the longest and most distinguished histories of any British city and you can explore over 250,000 years of it through Time Trail. The story is told through hundreds of objects from RAMM’s collections and with images of historic buildings and archaeological sites. Try our games and puzzles section to have a go at building a Roman mosaic or explore historic Exeter in Minecraft. Have you tried our new trails for mobiles?
KaiXR: Kai XR creates inclusive & accessible mixed reality spaces allowing kids to explore, dream, & create. Kai XR is a one-stop-shop for audiences brand new to mixed reality. Our educational resources offer educators, parents, & life-long learners a path to become early adopters of mixed reality.
Europeana – Archaeology: Explore 2,302,911 archaeological treasures from European museums, galleries, libraries and archives
Europeana – Industrial Heritage: Explore industrial heritage and working lives in 488,356 photographs, videos, objects, documents and more from across Europe
Europeana – Migration: Explore 230,988 items on the topic of migration to, from, and within Europe
Maps & Geography
Minnesota History: Resource for reliable information about significant people, places, events, and things in Minnesota history
The Metropolitan Museum of Art – Maps: Explore 5,000 years of art across the globe. You’ll find fun facts, project ideas, and behind-the-scenes videos made by curious kids. Program your destination to explore worlds of art
Ancient Mediterran (SmartHistory): The Great Pyramids at Giza, the Parthenon in Athens, the Colosseum in Rome, and more. c. 5000 B.C.E. – 400 C.E.
Arts of the Islamic World (SmartHistory): From the Dome of the Rock to the Taj Mahal, the Coronation Mantle, the Ardabil Carpet, and more… c. 640 – 1924 C.E.
Africa – Art Contributions (Smart History): Africans have contributed to the world’s cultural heritage with works of astonishing innovation. 7000 B.C.E. – present
Asia – History of Art (SmartHistory): Discover thousands of years of art from the world’s largest continent. c. 3500 B.C.E. – present
Oceania – Pacific (SmartHistory): The Pacific Ocean is seen to connect rather than separate the many islands of Oceania. c. 1500 B.C.E. – present
The Frick, Pittsburgh: Virtual tours, online collections, activities
FarmFood 360: Virtual tours of 11 different kinds of farms
History
National Museum of African American History & Culture (Smithsonian): The National Museum of African American History and Culture is the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, history, and culture. Museum has collected more than 36,000 artifacts.
Mexicana Ministry of Culture – History: Open platform of available digital collections of cultural content and spaces, including museums, libraries, archives, television and radio stations. Diverse formats available
Mexicana Ministry of Culture – Anthropology: Open platform of available digital collections of cultural content and spaces, including museums, libraries, archives, television and radio stations. Diverse formats available
SmartHistory: Art has the power to transform lives and to build understanding across cultures. We believe that the brilliant histories of art belong to everyone, no matter their background
Ancient Mediterran (SmartHistory): The Great Pyramids at Giza, the Parthenon in Athens, the Colosseum in Rome, and more. c. 5000 B.C.E. – 400 C.E.
Arts of the Islamic World (SmartHistory): From the Dome of the Rock to the Taj Mahal, the Coronation Mantle, the Ardabil Carpet, and more… c. 640 – 1924 C.E.
Africa – Art Contributions (Smart History): Africans have contributed to the world’s cultural heritage with works of astonishing innovation. 7000 B.C.E. – present
Asia – History of Art (SmartHistory): Discover thousands of years of art from the world’s largest continent. c. 3500 B.C.E. – present
Oceania – Pacific (SmartHistory): The Pacific Ocean is seen to connect rather than separate the many islands of Oceania. c. 1500 B.C.E. – present
The Metropolitan Museum of Art – Time Machine: Explore 5,000 years of art across the globe. You’ll find fun facts, project ideas, and behind-the-scenes videos made by curious kids. Program your destination to explore worlds of art
American Battlefield Trust: Experience the Civil War like never before and tour the battlefields in panoramic view. Jump from battlefield to battlefield using our virtual 360-degree tours that offer historic detail on battle highlights and points of interest, compelling photography, lively video, in-depth articles and more.
Remembering Lincoln – Ford’s Theater: After President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination on April 14, 1865, people across the world left behind evidence—letters, diaries, newspapers, sermons, mourning ribbons—that reveals their responses. These traces of the past show how the country, coming back together after four years of a bloody Civil War, mourned—or didn’t mourn—our 16th president.
George Washington’s Mount Vernon: Virtual Tours, timelines, etc. The estate, gardens, and farm of Mount Vernon totaled some 8,000 acres in the 18th century. Presently, an estimated 500 acres of this historic property have been painstakingly preserved along the banks of the Potomac River.
Prisoners At Home: Everyday Life in Japanese Internment Camps (DPLA): On February 19, 1942, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066. 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry (two-thirds of whom were US citizens) were forced to evacuate from their homes and report to assembly centers. From there, they were moved to one of ten internment camps, or War Relocation Centers, located in remote areas of seven states—California, Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, and Arkansas.
American Empire (DPLA): This exhibition maps the diverse and rocky terrain of the American empire to show how it informs contemporary conversations on heritage, citizenship, racism, and globalization.
America in 1918 Influenza Pandemic (DPLA): From the spring of 1918 to early 1919, no aspect of life remained untouched by the 1918 influenza pandemic for Americans at home and on the WWI war front. This exhibition explores the pandemic’s impact on American life. Torn in Two: Mapping the American Civil War (DPLA): This exhibition tells the story of the American Civil War both nationally and locally in Boston, Massachusetts, through maps, documents, letters, and other primary sources.
Activism in the U.S. (DPLA): The United States has a long history of activists seeking social, political, economic, and other changes to America—along with a history of other activists trying to prevent such changes.
Natural Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian): Collection of 145 million specimens and artifacts. Each one reflects a moment in space and time; in these moments we find Earth’s story
Science
Heritage on the Edge: Explore how five cultural sites are being affected by climate change (Rapa Nui, Easter Island; Edinburgh, Scotland; Bagerhat, Bangladesh; Kilwa Kisiwani, Tanzania; Chan Chan, Peru)
Race to the Moon (DPLA): In 1955, the US and the USSR each announced plans to launch a satellite into orbit. Who would be the first to succeed?
Mexicana Ministry of Culture – Archeology: Open platform of available digital collections of cultural content and spaces, including museums, libraries, archives, television and radio stations. Diverse formats available
All About Birds: Explore any type of bird you’re interested in, hear their different calls, live animal cams
Shedd Museum: Dive into questions about your favorite animals with a new kids video series
Archeological Analytics: Social media collections focused on Archeology. Organization that helps institutions create and distribute enticing content using their digitized collections
Nat BioExplora: Natural science open collections portal (3D images, bio diversity)
ArtUK: Explore the online home for every public art collection in the United Kingdom
Mexicana Ministry of Culture – Art: Open platform of available digital collections of cultural content and spaces, including museums, libraries, archives, television and radio stations. Diverse formats available
Evolution of Personal Camera (DPLA): Since the advent and eventual commercialization of photography throughout the nineteenth century, cameras have continuously redefined the American public’s conception of how images and history can be captured and shared. Looking to the early cameras of the 1800s to today’s cell phones and social networking apps, this exhibition explores how the personal camera has shaped American consciousness and culture over the course of its development
Hammer Museum: The Hammer Museum champions the art and artists who challenge us to see the world in a new light, to experience the unexpected, to ignite our imaginations, and inspire change
Corning Museum of Glass: Glass is a versatile, ancient material that is still being explored and understood by artists, scientists and historians today. The story of glass is a story about art, history, culture, technology, science, craft and design.
Europeana – Art: Discover art, artists and stories in 3,511,246 artworks from European museums, galleries, libraries and archives
Europeana – Fashion: Explore historical clothing and accessories, contemporary designs, catwalk photographs, drawings, sketches, plates, catalogues and videos from more than 30 European public and private institutions
Europeana – Photography: Explore the history of photography in 5,065,084 items from European cultural heritage collections
Virtual Museum of Canada: Discover history, art, science, nature and more through virtual exhibits from Canada’s museums and heritage organizations
Mexicana Ministry of Culture: Open platform of available digital collections of cultural content and spaces, including museums, libraries, archives, television and radio stations. Diverse formats available including radio programs, short films books, magazines, photographs, digital publications, thesis, multimedia objects, paintings, sculptures, etc
Smithsonian – Digital Learning Labs: Smithsonian Learning Labs gives parents and teachers have access to millions of digital resources from across the Smithsonian’s museums, research centers, libraries, archives, and more. You will also find pre-packaged collections that contain lessons, activities, and recommended resources made by Smithsonian museum educators as well as thousands of classroom teachers like you. Use the search bar below to search for Smithsonian Learning Lab Collections.
Musical Instruments Museums Online (MIMO): World’s largest freely accessible database for information on musical instruments held in public collections. Database contains the records of 64,070 instruments
Europeana – Music: Explore 610,607 recordings, sheet music, instruments, and music-related collections from European audio-visual archives, libraries and museums
My therapist has asked me to write down a list of my emotional traumas.
A list of all the emotionally and physically traumatic experiences that have happened to me in my life, that have contributed to my Bipolar Disorder and PTSD.
Right now, my therapist doesn’t feel as though I’m ready for the therapy called Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). As far as I understand, I have to relive physical and emotional traumatic experiences, have the proper emotional response, get over it, then have Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) so I can develop some sort of coping mechanism for the future.
But until my medications are adjusted and I’m in a better place, I have to wait.
So, here is my list:
Sexual abuse around age 3 by a family member. I repressed this memory until it slapped me in the face at age 12, causing an intense anxiety attack.
Constant arguing between my parents, thanks to my father’s alcoholism, gambling and pain issues due to needing a hip replacement. The pain issue turned into an anger issue; turned into a power tool being thrown at my mother, missing, and going through the window and landing at my feet; followed by an argument on a holiday with my father resulting in me taking a heavy duty power torch to the head.
As a “gifted child,” I was bullied a lot in primary school and high school. I still carry some of those emotional scars with me.
Funnily enough, my brain is currently trying to stop me from accessing more memories. Suck it, brain; stop being a whiny bitch and let me write this shit out.
When I was 16, my mother – being severely depressed – attempted suicide several times. The last time she tried, she had an argument with my father (now a better man, nothing like his days in my earlier life), and downed a ton of pills. I found her and her suicide note. I actively suppress the things written on that note thanks to the emotional trauma but I know how it began.
That sentence haunts me in my dreams. She is fine now, thankfully, but I refused to talk about it with anyone and pretended it never happened.
I was diagnosed with severe anxiety disorder when I had a panic attack at high school so bad my heart rate was 180, and I had to be rushed to hospital for fear of doing damage to my heart.
Since that day, I regularly have heart palpitations.
I had a psychotic episode at 17, when voices told me to stab my mother. I became paralyzed in my own bed while lights shone down from the ceiling, and I was convinced aliens were coming for me, despite my logical brain telling me I was being stupid.
I was diagnosed with endometriosis and told I should probably have children before 25. I’m currently a week away from my 24th birthday. Talk about another emotional trauma.
I dated a Muslim man for eight months. Toward the end of the relationship, I was emotionally abused, when he called me a dog. I went running into the arms of a male friend.
I decided I was the worst person in the world and went off screwing any guy who looked my way, drinking myself into oblivion, and eating pills like candy, just to numb the pain. I wanted to be used. I asked my male friend – now my fuck buddy – if he was using me for sex. He replied yes. I cried and said, “good.
” Turned out he wasn’t using me: he was in love with me; as a result of my promiscuity, and his inability to tell me how he felt, he quit university, broken-hearted.
I started dating my current partner, whom I have been with for five years now. We lived with his sister, her fiancé, and their daughter. His sister is a lazy bully who cannot look after herself, let alone children (currently a total of three). Her fiancé is a violent, alcoholic gambler. After being made a prisoner in my own bedroom, we got our own place.
My diagnosis of fibromyalgia explained my constant pain and tiredness. Yay for inheriting every single shitty illness my parents have.
Recently, I have started to have feelings for a close friend, who also has a partner. While drunk, we have made twice. I have feelings for him, but he is just attracted to me. I have immense guilt over betraying my partner, who is emotionally stunted. I think I’m just attracted to my friend because he has the social and emotional skills my partner lacks.
I was severely bullied at my last job until I began having daily panic attacks and getting into a screaming matches with a higher-up and former friend.
I decided to self-harm and contemplated suicide when the medication I was taking for five years stopped working. Unfortunately, while the medication stopped working, my now non-existant libido did not return.
Have also suffered dermatillomania (chronic skin-picking) for most of my life, particularly my feet. It is disgusting.
Currently, I am plagued by insomnia, headaches, anxiety, shame, severe depression, guilt, and every other horrible feeling imaginable. According to my therapist, I have feelings of low self-worth. According to my friends, I have a much lower opinion of myself than everyone else does of me.
I am both numb and emotionally unstable. I can’t cry, even though I really want to let it out. I think of myself as selfish and horrible, a terrible person who doesn’t deserve what I have. I theorize that I have some subconscious need to sabotage myself. Every time something is going well, just to add some drama in my life. Why I do this, I don’t know. And as I have written this list in such a cold, emotionless manner, I find it odd that I can be so numb and feel so many negative emotions at the same time. I feel like a robot.
I don’t want sympathy. At least, I don’t think I do. I am just tired. Tired of struggling through every day with these issues. I want the problems to just magically disappear because I’m tired of fighting.
I know it’s a long road ahead to my recovery. And as much as I don’t want to relive the aforementioned memories, I am also excited for the first time in ages because maybe, finally, with proper therapy…
Thursday I’m having lumbar epidural steroid injections in an attempt to decrease the all-encompassing back pain I’ve lived with for 9 years.
Like GOOD any member of Gen Y, I googled the procedures my pain management doctor offers before I saw her for the first time…and the results the internet gave me are less than stellar:
Only a whopping 60% of people see results, there is a possible vast increase in pain for a few days after the injection, I’ll only able to do this for a limited time, blah blah blah.
My doctor is feeding me a different story…along the lines of “two injections and you won’t ever have to see me or anyone else ever again.”
I don’t know how an anti-inflammatory will get rid of the bulging discs the MRI showed, but she didn’t seem concerned.
So, I’m torn, The Band.
Am I just a horrible cynic who’s been through 13 doctors and can’t see the light no matter how bright it is?
I really feel like I’m being sold the back pain version of a miracle weight loss drug. Not that I have a choice; at this point I’ll try anything to keep myself from jumping in front of a train.
