Ever hear a phrase and think “If I never, ever hear that phrase again, it will be too soon”? As we approach the six month anniversary since my Governor declared a state of emergency due to COVID-19, let’s consider some of the ubiquitous phrases that both existed prior to and have crept into our shared lexicon since the Before Times. Grab a beverage and join me below the fold to hear some of the phrases we’d love never to hear again, and share some of your own!
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In the Before Times when The ‘Rona hadn’t yet arrived, we didn’t talk about Social Distancing, nor did we do all we could to Flatten The Curve lest we be called a Covidiot. We didn’t even have Quaranteams!
Last spring as the pandemic burst onto the American scene, just about every school in the country closed overnight, reopening days or weeks later with teachers having suddenly found themselves conducting all classes online. I am fairly sure I speak for just about every parent and student everywhere when I say that as much as I understand the godforsaken role our educators were thrust into and don’t blame them in the slightest, it was a clusterfuck of hastily-adapted lectures, youtube videos and Khan Academy assignments.
Which brings us to several current hot phrases as our kids head back to school. Like many kids, both of mine are/will be remote learning (at least at first): K1 is in her second week of graduate school classes 400 miles from campus, and K2 starts 10th grade mid-September from his bedroom with the hopes of a week in/week remote hybrid model starting up in October.
Both remote learning (as opposed to in-person learning) and hybrid model (where kids are physically in school sometimes and remote learning other times) are what’s used in nearly every school or university, but have you noticed this phrase: Robust Synchronous Remote Learning? It’s what every School Principal Superintendent and School Committee are using as often as possible in every notice, email and social media post. It indicates that THIS SEMESTER will have classes meeting synchronously (aka the teacher is real-time working with students) and will have Serious Academic Content. Yes, we get it… you’re reassuring parents that their kids will have a meaningful academic experience. I want that too. But for the love of a thesaurus, is there another phrase we can use or did this one get trademarked?
Ever since we began to emerge from “strict quarantine” (and yes, readers from pretty much everywhere that isn’t America are laughing at our idea of ‘strict’) and began Reopening, we’ve witnessed places open… then close. You know the two phrases inevitably in the press release… Out Of An An Abundance of Caution we will be closed for Deep Intensive Cleaning. What I hear when that phrase is uttered is “We have no idea if this will help or not, but it makes people feel more secure if we say we’re cleaning especially well.” What exactly does Deep Intensive Cleaning mean at a grocery store… wiping down every can and bottle on the shelves? Dust more?
It seems to have fallen out of favor or maybe that’s just in my circles, but does everyone remember when Pandemic was new and the craze was to refer to pets as My Coworkers? Is that still a Thing, or is that sooooo six months ago? Do we still drink Quarantinis, and worry about Zoombombing during our meetings?
What other words and phrases come to mind when you think about the past six months? Please share them in the comments after taking a look at tonight’s Top Comments, Mojo and Pictures!
TOP COMMENTS
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From luckylizard:
It’s hard to argue the logic of this simple question from Tortmaster: "The great orange fuckpudding has said on multiple occasions that a vaccine would be ready by November 3. If that were true, why wouldn't he suggest that schools open on November 4?" From teacherken's diary on the LP ad "School."
Highlighted by 2thanks:
Is this comment by OwossoHarpist, with a picture of our candidate serving first responders in Pittsburgh.
Highlighted by The Marti:
Is this optimistic comment by twingrace, on the theme of love trumps hate, after another commenter demurred.
Highlighted by Torta:
Is this fine comment by NotSoNew. It isn’t common that wwe quote a portion of the comment in the nom, but I am doing it here. “In 2020 he is no longer the “outsider” he owns this, his approval numbers have never been above water for his entire presidency, that’s a first. He has a pandemic on his watch and the highest spike in unemployment in history. He was impeached. He didn’t fulfill any of his campaign promises even when he had all branches of government. There is massive social unrest and he is on the wrong side of the race issue. Every single one of these is a gaping wound for a re-election campaign. “
TOP MOJO
Top Mojo for yesterday, August 30th 2020, first comments and tip jars excluded. Thank you mik for the mojo magic! For those of you interested in How Top Mojo Works, please see his diary on FAQing Top Mojo.
Top Pictures
Top Pictures for yesterday, August 30th 2020. Click any picture to be taken to the full comment or picture. Thank you jotter!
