April Fool's Day is a good day to consider life from a virus's perspective. Our tiny friends have many positive attributes.
Have you ever considered a pandemic from a virus's perspective? I suspect you haven't. Today is a good day to start.
Those virus just want to use a few of your cells to reproduce. Why should we be inhospitable? They might be selfish, but that is their genetic nature. Imagine how viruses feel when we reject them.
At least, give these little guys and gals credit. They certainly punch above their weight! Per micro-gram, they have more impact on the world than any other living or semi-living creature: they have shut down polluting industries, reduced dangerous and dirty activities, forced overly-busy people to take a holiday, and created lots of at-home family time! We are now enjoying a long-needed global sabbatical.
How do we express our appreciation? We abuse them with anti-viral attitudes. All too often our response is eradication, which is just another word for extinction! Poor bubonic plague. Poor smallpox. Poor polio. Poor COVID-19. It's unfair! Shouldn't viruses have rights? It's time to establish virus advocacy organizations to promote the interests of our tiny friends.
At least lets appreciate pandemic humor. How about, "Every disaster movie begins with the government ignoring a scientist" (perhaps that strikes too close to reality), or "A man walks into a bar and says to the bartender, 'I'll have a Corona, hold the virus please'."
There is lots of anti-COVID propaganda, including this pop song produced by the Vietnamese Health Department, Masaka Kids Africana Dancing Let's Fight COVID-19, and Ugandan singer Bobi Wine's catchy Corona Virus Alert. Fortunately, not everybody is so anti-viral. Henrik Widegren sings, I am Corona. The Tiny Microbes Company produces COVID-19 plush toys; the perfect gift for younger humans living in quarantine. Hug a virus today!
What do you think? Today is a terrific day to celebrate human-virus relationships. Thanks, COVID-19, for all you've done for humanity!
After Omicron
Don't count on Omicron ending the pandemic, cautioned America's top infectious disease expert on Jan. 17. "Get ready to learn new Greek letters," warned the Associated Press as daily COVID deaths topped the peak set in the Delta wave.
Omicron Breaks Another Pandemic Record: Hospitalizations
The highly infectious Omicron variant is contributing to a record number of COVID-19 hospitalizations in the U.S. The record set in last winter's surge fell on Tuesday as hospitals suffer from massive labor shortages caused by the variant.
How COVID-19 and Skyrocketing Housing Costs Accelerated Sprawl
In search of space and affordability, American families are increasingly moving to suburbs and exurbs.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes
Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.
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Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species
The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
