latimes--2020-04-30--Amid a puzzling pandemic, they started posting riddles outside. Here's what came next

Back before everyone wore masks in stores , back before elbows were needed to press crosswalk buttons , back before it was clear the school year was history and bad hair days were the new norm , the Larson family started pondering ways to spread some cheer in their neighborhood .
The epiphany came in mid-March when one of their two kids , 6-year-old Reid , suddenly offered up a riddle .
“ Dad , do you want to know a difficult question ?
” Jay Larson recalls Reid as saying .
“ What letter holds the most water ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Soon after , the Larsons started posting riddles on a sign board on their lawn , far enough away from their front door that they could safely interact with neighbors .
Kate Larson and their kids , Reid and 4-year-old River , hand-paint the riddles each day , posting the answers on the back of the sign .
This was the first one : 1 .
What letter holds the most water ?
( Answers at the end ) .
Soon it took off .
Others in their Mar Vista neighborhood started adorning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brain twisters .
Stir-crazy house dwellers organized their daily walks around visiting the yard displays , often meeting neighbors they had never met before .
The family has been posting riddles for 40-plus days , but Kate Larson said it has yet to get old .
She looks forward to awaking each morning and helping her kids choose and paint that day ’ s riddle .
She ’ s incorporated it into their home-schooling routine , and feels good about creating a conversation starter .
“ At times like this you are craving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ else , ” said Kate .
“ It is so important to have those distanced relationships that are still meaningful and fun .
Something lighthearted.
” Across Los Angeles and beyond , sheltered-in-place people are finding ways to cope and connect with others amid the coronavirus pandemic .
Yard art , dad jokes , sidewalk chalk drawings and poetry are all part of the mix .
For the Larsons , they initially thought they ’ d be posting their riddles for two weeks or so .
But the lockdown dragged out , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Two weeks in , Kate learned that her employer , a New York-based jewelry company , was furloughing her and hundreds of other employees nationwide .
Jay , a stand-up comedian , no longer had gigs , but had fortunately just started a job writing for a streaming service , which suddenly was in high demand .
“ First it was like — two weeks .
OK , two weeks .
We can handle that .
And then — boom — everyone is furloughed .
Then , boom , it is going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everything was shut down .
And then masks.
” 2 .
What are the best kind of jokes during a quarantine ?
The Larsons , like many Americans , have struggled through the reality that friends and coworkers are sick , and that some may not survive the pandemic .
But they say they ’ ve tried not to dwell on the darker sides of the moment .
“ I don ’ t think I ever let my mind get there , ” said Kate .
“ We were like , let ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can ’ t control , ” said Jay .
“ Let ’ s focus on the things we can control , and make that our best world.
” 3 .
Where do you take a sick pirate ship ?
Nearly every day , Kate takes her kids on a walk through Mar Vista , where she and Jay have lived since they married a decade ago .
Sandwiched between Santa Monica and Culver City , Mar Vista is one of many L.A. neighborhoods in transition .
On many blocks north of Venice Boulevard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ houses , tearing them down and replacing them with lot-filling , multi-story modern homes that sell for $ 3 million or more .
The most expensive homes have a vista of the mar , perched on palm-lined streets such as Grand View Ave .
But the 90066 area code also includes families of more modest means .
Nearly two-thirds of the area ’ s 42,000 households are renters .
During her walks with the kids , Kate makes a circuit by other joke and riddle houses that have sprung up .
Dana and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ started posting daily jokes , inspired by the Larson ’ s handiwork .
On Monday , they posted this joke on their tree .
4 .
What happened when the butcher backed into his meat grinder ?
Hanging out on the front lawn , their kids Nina , 11 , and Peter , 8 , have been known to pepper passersby with jokes .
5 .
Why couldn ’ t the koala get a loan ?
Peter burst into giggles while sharing this one , more edgy than some others .
From there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AT-AT house , ” so named because its front yard includes a giant blow-up replica of the All-Terrain Armored Transports in the Star Wars movies .
Then they stop by the “ chicken house , ” where the Rodriguez family have three chickens scratching around the front yard .
On Monday , Caleb Rodriguez , age 11 , showed off his latest hand-drawn posters that describe the three chickens , named Cargo , Frankie and Rocky .
“ I thought it would make people happy , ” he said of his sign .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ nurse at UCLA , said the neighborhood is starting to feel like it did back in the 1990s , when they first moved there .
People are out and about more , and have more time to chat — from a distance .
“ We have met so many lovely people , ” said Rodriguez , still in her nurses scrubs after getting back from a shift .
“ Kate being one of them.
” As she was talking , a neighbor , Kelly Covato , stopped by with a bag of flour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hit of the neighborhood , ” said Covato , pointing to the chickens and Caleb ’ s hand-drawn sign .
Back at the Larson home , the school lessons are done , Jay ’ s work day is behind him and the sun is starting to drop in the sky .
The family sometimes sits out on the lawn and chats with whoever is strolling by .
“ So many good things have come out of this , ” said Kate , who said she previously would travel for work about 80 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the family .
“ Now I sit with these kids every day , and I realize how many things I missed out about their lives , because I was gone all the time.
” Asked to share their favorite riddles , the Larsons included this one .
7 .
When times get tough , what do you have that you can always count on ?
Answers : 1 ) C ; 2 ) Inside jokes ; 3 ) To the dock ; 4 ) He got a little behind in his work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t koala-fied ; 6 ) Canada and Mexico ; 7 ) Love .

Back before everyone wore masks in stores, back before elbows were needed to press crosswalk buttons, back before it was clear the school year was history and bad hair days were the new norm, the Larson family started pondering ways to spread some cheer in their neighborhood.
The epiphany came in mid-March when one of their two kids, 6-year-old Reid, suddenly offered up a riddle.
“Dad, do you want to know a difficult question?” Jay Larson recalls Reid as saying. “What letter holds the most water?”
Thus the riddles were born.
Soon after, the Larsons started posting riddles on a sign board on their lawn, far enough away from their front door that they could safely interact with neighbors. Kate Larson and their kids, Reid and 4-year-old River, hand-paint the riddles each day, posting the answers on the back of the sign. This was the first one:
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1. What letter holds the most water? (Answers at the end).
Soon it took off. Others in their Mar Vista neighborhood started adorning their yards with riddles, jokes and brain twisters. Stir-crazy house dwellers organized their daily walks around visiting the yard displays, often meeting neighbors they had never met before.
The family has been posting riddles for 40-plus days, but Kate Larson said it has yet to get old. She looks forward to awaking each morning and helping her kids choose and paint that day’s riddle. She’s incorporated it into their home-schooling routine, and feels good about creating a conversation starter.
“At times like this you are craving the social interaction you are lacking everywhere else,” said Kate. “It is so important to have those distanced relationships that are still meaningful and fun. Something lighthearted.”
1 / 4 Jen Bisgrove and her dog Jeager approach a joke of the day posted on a tree in her Mar Vista neighborhood. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times) 2 / 4 Nina Schwartz, 11, reads the daily musing posted next to a giant inflatable AT-AT in her Mar Vista neighborhood. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times) 3 / 4 A collection of jokes of the day posted by Jay and Kate Larsen in their front yard to brighten the days of their Mar Vista neighbors. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times) 4 / 4 Kate Larsen, with her help of her children Reid, 6, and River, 4, posts a new joke of the day in front of their Mar Vista home. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)
Across Los Angeles and beyond, sheltered-in-place people are finding ways to cope and connect with others amid the coronavirus pandemic. Yard art, dad jokes, sidewalk chalk drawings and poetry are all part of the mix.
Advertisement
For the Larsons, they initially thought they’d be posting their riddles for two weeks or so. But the lockdown dragged out, and things took a turn for the worse.
Two weeks in, Kate learned that her employer, a New York-based jewelry company, was furloughing her and hundreds of other employees nationwide. Jay, a stand-up comedian, no longer had gigs, but had fortunately just started a job writing for a streaming service, which suddenly was in high demand.
“First it was like — two weeks. OK, two weeks. We can handle that. And then — boom — everyone is furloughed. Then, boom, it is going to be another month. And then everything was shut down. And then masks.”
2. What are the best kind of jokes during a quarantine?
The Larsons, like many Americans, have struggled through the reality that friends and coworkers are sick, and that some may not survive the pandemic. But they say they’ve tried not to dwell on the darker sides of the moment.
“I don’t think I ever let my mind get there,” said Kate.
“We were like, let’s not get upset about things we can’t control,” said Jay. “Let’s focus on the things we can control, and make that our best world.”
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3. Where do you take a sick pirate ship?
Nearly every day, Kate takes her kids on a walk through Mar Vista, where she and Jay have lived since they married a decade ago.
Sandwiched between Santa Monica and Culver City, Mar Vista is one of many L.A. neighborhoods in transition. On many blocks north of Venice Boulevard, speculators are buying up modest ranch houses, tearing them down and replacing them with lot-filling, multi-story modern homes that sell for $3 million or more.
The most expensive homes have a vista of the mar, perched on palm-lined streets such as Grand View Ave. But the 90066 area code also includes families of more modest means. Nearly two-thirds of the area’s 42,000 households are renters.
Liz Goldman walks her dog, Charlie, past Jabba the Hutt in her Mar Vista neighborhood. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)
During her walks with the kids, Kate makes a circuit by other joke and riddle houses that have sprung up.
Advertisement
Dayna and Robbie Schwartz and their two kids have started posting daily jokes, inspired by the Larson’s handiwork.
On Monday, they posted this joke on their tree.
4. What happened when the butcher backed into his meat grinder?
Hanging out on the front lawn, their kids Nina, 11, and Peter, 8, have been known to pepper passersby with jokes.
5. Why couldn’t the koala get a loan?
Peter burst into giggles while sharing this one, more edgy than some others.
6. What borders on stupidity?
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From there, the Larsons stroll by the “AT-AT house,” so named because its front yard includes a giant blow-up replica of the All-Terrain Armored Transports in the Star Wars movies. Then they stop by the “chicken house,” where the Rodriguez family has three chickens scratching around the front yard.
Eleven-year-old twins Canaan, left, and Caleb Rodriguez handle chickens as they visit with the Larsen family. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)
On Monday, Caleb Rodriguez, age 11, showed off his latest hand-drawn posters that describe the three chickens, named Cargo, Frankie and Rocky. “I thought it would make people happy,” he said of his sign.
Kathy Rodriguez, who works as a nurse at UCLA, said the neighborhood is starting to feel like it did back in the 1990s, when they first moved there. People are out and about more, and have more time to chat — from a distance.
“We have met so many lovely people,” said Rodriguez, still in her nurses scrubs after getting back from a shift. “Kate being one of them.”
As she was talking, a neighbor, Kelly Covato, stopped by with a bag of flour for Kathy.
“This has been the hit of the neighborhood,” said Covato, pointing to the chickens and Caleb’s hand-drawn sign.
Back at the Larson home, the school lessons are done, Jay’s workday is behind him and the sun is starting to drop in the sky. The family sometimes sits out on the lawn and chats with whoever is strolling by.
Marina Bonanni, walking her dogs Milo and Louis, checks out the answer to the riddle of the day posted in the Larsen frontyard. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)
“So many good things have come out of this,” said Kate, who said she previously would travel for work about 80 days each year, leaving little time for the family. “Now I sit with these kids every day, and I realize how many things I missed out about their lives, because I was gone all the time.”
Asked to share their favorite riddles, the Larsons included this one.
Advertisement
7. When times get tough, what do you have that you can always count on?
Answers:
1) C; 2) Inside jokes; 3) To the dock; 4) He got a little behind in his work; 5) Because he wasn’t koala-fied; 6) Canada and Mexico; 7) Love.


latimes--2020-04-30--This California county might defy the state and lift stay-at-home order Friday

For weeks , some small California communities that have seen little impact from the coronavirus have been lobbying Gov .
Gavin Newsom to allow them to ease stay-at-home restrictions .
Newsom so far has refused , saying conditions are still too risky .
On Friday , one remote county might ease restrictions anyway .
Modoc County , in the northeastern corner of California , is one of the least-populated counties in the state , with fewer than 9,000 residents .
It plans to allow all businesses , schools and churches to reopen starting Friday , as long as people stay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement signed by the county health officer , sheriff-coroner , chair of the Board of Supervisors , and other county officials .
“ The health and safety of Modoc County residents is and continues to be our number one priority .
This reopening plan was made in the best interest of residents ’ physical , mental and economic health , ” the statement said .
Restaurants and bars would be allowed to host diners but only at half the businesses ’ capacity .
Seniors 65 or older , or residents with underlying health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay home as much as possible , only leaving home for essential business , and large gatherings where people can not stay six feet from one another would still be banned .
Modoc County is one of four California counties that have not reported a single case of coronavirus infection .
“ This is a plan , this is not an order , ” the Modoc County Sheriff ’ s Office said in a statement .
“ This is simply what we are proposing that is eligible to open if preventative measures are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be given to business owners so that when they feel the time is right , they can make that decision .
... We need to do this in a smart and strategic way to keep us all healthy.
” Under the plan , the county might revert back to a full stay-at-home order if two or more coronavirus infections are found , if the county death rate substantially increases , or if a medical surge in patients overloads county medical facilities .
The statement said Modoc County has the resources to perform contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found to be infected and identify their close contacts , so they can be quarantined and kept away from other people to see if they become sick .
It ’ s unclear whether the reopening will result in a legal showdown between Modoc County and Newsom , whose statewide stay-at-home order supersedes local laws .
Newsom urged Californians on Wednesday to stay home and practice physical distancing , saying they should avoid spoiling the progress the state has made in the coronavirus fight as he prepares to allow some businesses to reopen gradually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ position when we are just a week or two away from significant modifications of our stay-at-home [ order ] , ” Newsom said , “ where we can begin a Phase 2 , beginning to reopen sectors of our economy that are low risk ?
” This week , the governor unveiled the to slowly ease restrictions on Californians in four stages in the weeks and months ahead .
He also announced that in July or early August , catching some educators off-guard .
Newsom introduced the four-phase plan weeks after he unveiled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lifting restrictions — including more-widespread testing , increased hospital capacity , and plans to safely reopen businesses as well as prevent and prepare for the possibility of a second wave of infections .
He has not offered a specific timeline for the changes to be implemented .
Other communities have also been clamoring to ease stay-at-home rules .
Elected officials in Butte , Glenn , Tehama , Yuba , Sutter and Colusa counties in Northern California are among those who have asked Newsom They say that cases and deaths in their region appear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order should be modified in those areas to help restart the economy .
Last week , San Luis Obispo County officials asked Newsom to begin a slow and gradual reopening process , one they say is guided by science but also recognizes that their region may be in better shape to ease rules faster than more populous areas such as Los Angeles County and Silicon Valley .
A group of cities in Stanislaus County last week sent Newsom proposing steps to loosen restrictions , saying “ a reopening process that may fit , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and our neighboring Bay Area regions does not work for our county .
Stanislaus County is nothing like the regions of San Francisco or Los Angeles.
” The cities suggested a first phase of reopening parks , places of worship , restaurants , car washes and some other businesses , all following strict rules .
Nineteen counties from Humboldt to Tuolumne have recorded no fatalities from the virus .
And even moderately populated counties such as Fresno and Monterey have experienced only single-digit death tolls .
Los Angeles County , meanwhile , has @ @ @ @ @ @

For weeks, some small California communities that have seen little impact from the coronavirus have been lobbying Gov. Gavin Newsom to allow them to ease stay-at-home restrictions.
Newsom so far has refused, saying conditions are still too risky.
On Friday, one remote county might ease restrictions anyway.
Modoc County, in the northeastern corner of California, is one of the least-populated counties in the state, with fewer than 9,000 residents. It plans to allow all businesses, schools and churches to reopen starting Friday, as long as people stay six feet apart, according to a statement signed by the county health officer, sheriff-coroner, chair of the Board of Supervisors, and other county officials.
“The health and safety of Modoc County residents is and continues to be our number one priority. This reopening plan was made in the best interest of residents’ physical, mental and economic health,” the statement said.
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Restaurants and bars would be allowed to host diners but only at half the businesses’ capacity. Seniors 65 or older, or residents with underlying health conditions, would still be required to stay home as much as possible, only leaving home for essential business, and large gatherings where people cannot stay six feet from one another would still be banned.
Modoc County is one of four California counties that have not reported a single case of coronavirus infection.
“This is a plan, this is not an order,” the Modoc County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. “This is simply what we are proposing that is eligible to open if preventative measures are possible. We want the option to be given to business owners so that when they feel the time is right, they can make that decision. ... We need to do this in a smart and strategic way to keep us all healthy.”
Under the plan, the county might revert back to a full stay-at-home order if two or more coronavirus infections are found, if the county death rate substantially increases, or if a medical surge in patients overloads county medical facilities.
The statement said Modoc County has the resources to perform contact tracing — conduct disease investigations of those found to be infected and identify their close contacts, so they can be quarantined and kept away from other people to see if they become sick.
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It’s unclear whether the reopening will result in a legal showdown between Modoc County and Newsom, whose statewide stay-at-home order supersedes local laws.
Newsom urged Californians on Wednesday to stay home and practice physical distancing, saying they should avoid spoiling the progress the state has made in the coronavirus fight as he prepares to allow some businesses to reopen gradually.
“Why put ourselves in that position when we are just a week or two away from significant modifications of our stay-at-home [order],” Newsom said, “where we can begin a Phase 2, beginning to reopen sectors of our economy that are low risk?”
This week, the governor unveiled the broad outline of a plan to slowly ease restrictions on Californians in four stages in the weeks and months ahead. He also announced that schools could potentially reopen in July or early August, catching some educators off-guard.
Newsom introduced the four-phase plan weeks after he unveiled six criteria California must meet before gradually lifting restrictions — including more-widespread testing, increased hospital capacity, and plans to safely reopen businesses as well as prevent and prepare for the possibility of a second wave of infections.
He has not offered a specific timeline for the changes to be implemented.
Other communities have also been clamoring to ease stay-at-home rules.
Elected officials in Butte, Glenn, Tehama, Yuba, Sutter and Colusa counties in Northern California are among those who have asked Newsom to ease restrictions.
They say that cases and deaths in their region appear to have stabilized and that the stay-at-home order should be modified in those areas to help restart the economy.
Last week, San Luis Obispo County officials asked Newsom to begin a slow and gradual reopening process, one they say is guided by science but also recognizes that their region may be in better shape to ease rules faster than more populous areas such as Los Angeles County and Silicon Valley.
A group of cities in Stanislaus County last week sent Newsom a letter proposing steps to loosen restrictions, saying “a reopening process that may fit, and make sense, for Los Angeles and our neighboring Bay Area regions does not work for our county. Stanislaus County is nothing like the regions of San Francisco or Los Angeles.”
The cities suggested a first phase of reopening parks, places of worship, restaurants, car washes and some other businesses, all following strict social distancing rules.
Nineteen counties from Humboldt to Tuolumne have recorded no fatalities from the virus. And even moderately populated counties such as Fresno and Monterey have experienced only single-digit death tolls.
Los Angeles County, meanwhile, has had more than 1,000 deaths.


latimes--2020-04-30--How coronavirus could change college life: Outdoor classes, small group dorms, takeout dining

It ’ s fall and here ’ s what college life could look like : Students are back in class — but spaced apart in auditoriums , fitness centers , even outdoors .
They ’ re eating cafeteria food again — but taking it to go rather than sitting with friends in dining halls .
They ’ ve returned to campus housing — but are living in single rooms or a small group dorm , where if anyone gets infected with COVID-19 , everyone would be assessed and possibly quarantined .
It ’ s not an ideal college experience .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to campus after a spring term of isolation and staring at computer screens in online classes .
This back-to-school scenario , described by Claremont McKenna College , offers potential answers to the biggest question in higher education today : How will colleges reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic ?
Many colleges and universities across the nation , distressed by the negative financial , academic and social impact of continued online learning , are scrambling to find ways to safely educate and provide for their students in the fall .
Already , several universities , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York , have said they plan to reopen this fall or are leaning toward doing so .
San Jose State , Cal State East Bay and UC San Diego have said they intend to offer a combination of in-person and online instruction .
USC is exploring a later start for on-campus classes , retrofitting facilities for social distancing and hybrid courses with online and in-person activities .
Most universities , including other UC campuses , are planning for multiple scenarios depending on public health assessments and their own campus needs — and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ Everyone has a different version of a scenario that seems like the most obvious one for them .
It ’ s hard to find some consistency , ” said Edward J. Maloney , who heads a Georgetown University center on teaching , learning and technology .
“ From most people ’ s perspective , back to normal is the goal .
But even if you ’ re back to normal , it ’ s going to be a new normal.
” California K-12 schools also have started to examine how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gavin Newsom said Wednesday that schools may be able to open as early as July .
Each district will make its own decision , however .
Local officials caution that health and safety measures are far from being in place and teacher unions said workplace changes are subject to bargaining .
Maloney and Joshua Kim , an online learning expert at Dartmouth College , recently laid out 15 fall scenarios that colleges are discussing .
They include starting the fall term later , bringing students back in waves of smaller groups , using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ courses into shorter blocks .
For Claremont McKenna and other small liberal arts colleges , the urgency to reopen campuses is particularly strong .
Close-knit residential learning communities are their signature brand .
Claremont McKenna educates 1,300 undergraduates , with average class sizes of 18 .
Nearly all students live on campus .
And President Hiram Chodosh and faculty routinely invite them to their homes for dinner .
“ We thrive on social density , ” Chodosh said .
“ So the dispersion of a community that thrives on social density is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In a message to the campus community , Chodosh said the most likely scenario for fall would be a modified return to campus , provided that public health improves , stay-at-home restrictions relax and testing and contact tracing capabilities increase .
Claremont McKenna students who don ’ t want to return this fall can apply for deferment .
International students who can ’ t get visas to return or those at greater risk , such as immuno-compromised students , can continue online classes .
But many students who are chafing at home , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ friends and the independent lives they ’ ve built , say they can ’ t wait to return to campus .
Charlie Streator , a junior in history who has returned to his Connecticut home for spring term , said he misses the learning that happens outside the classroom .
One of his best memories , he said , was “ being very nerdy together ” with his classmates and professor after class .
He recalled a huge debate over the most important war in history — Streator argued for the Crimean War @ @ @ @ @ @ @ War .
The professor invited the group to his home the following Sunday for Easter dinner with his family .
“ I was like literally at that moment , ‘ Oh so this is why I go to a small liberal arts college , ’ ” Streator said .
“ What fills our day now is like a Zoom class or doing our homework , but there ’ s nothing else because we ’ re just trapped in our house .
For a lot of people , it ’ s been a super @ @ @ @ @ @ @ junior studying economics and international relations , misses the bonding with friends : The late night study sessions that build community through “ joint suffering , ” the ping pong games that balance that out .
Zach Fogel , a sophomore majoring in philosophy and public affairs , said many of his friends are planning to take time off from school if they can ’ t return to campus .
Fogel quarterbacks for the Claremont-Harvey Mudd-Scripps football team and sings with a campus a cappella group .
“ A huge part of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
“ So whatever I ’ ve got to do to go back , I ’ ll do it .
Whatever the restrictions are , I ’ ll follow them.
” That widespread sentiment has sent Claremont McKenna staff into overdrive — often working 12-hour days , seven days a week since the pandemic intensified in mid-March — as they plan reopening scenarios .
They are consulting healthcare professionals but mainly using their own expertise to prepare for myriad situations , including a worst case scenario of a second wave COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sending everyone off campus again .
Sharon Basso , vice president of student affairs , and her staff have assembled an Excel document with nearly 25 tabs laying out myriad details .
Basso stressed that the campus will take the lead from public health officials and incorporate protocols for testing , quarantines , contact tracing and social distancing .
To teach classes with enough physical distancing , the college is considering changing venues and scheduling .
Dean of Students Dianna Graves said faculty may teach smaller classes in multiple sections , extending hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ half the class attend in person one day while the other half does so online , then flip the next day .
They may move classes into larger spaces , including the auditorium and fitness center , and are considering buying more outdoor furniture to meet in open space during good weather .
To ensure safe living arrangements , Claremont McKenna has leased nearby apartments that could accommodate more than 100 additional students .
Another idea is to group students in clusters , similar to a family unit , and limit their close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Basso said officials are looking at installing hand sanitizer stations at the entrance of each residence hall and making health kits for each student with a thermometer , mask , gloves , Tylenol and Gatorade .
They plan to continue tele-medical services , including mental health counseling .
And they ’ re preparing for a range of dining options , including take-out meals only or eating in cafeterias but at a distance .
The level of detail extends to whether they should set higher water temperatures for washing machines and whether they should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case WiFi bandwidth is overwhelmed by a return to campus that still includes widespread online learning .
“ These strategies may not work .
They may not be feasible , ” Chodosh cautioned .
“ But we need to exhaust the path before we get to that particular dead end.
” Similar planning is underway at Claremont McKenna ’ s four sister undergraduate institutions in the Claremont Colleges consortium .
Pomona College President G. Gabrielle Starr said the campus is considering delaying the start of fall term or limiting students who return — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they get the all-important on-campus experience .
Students may take one or two courses online , then take subsequent ones on campus .
Pomona also has secured additional leases for campus housing in case more spacing is needed .
Pitzer College President Melvin L. Oliver said he ’ s concerned that continued requirements for social distancing could compromise the experience of a liberal arts campus .
But mindful of comparisons of a small campus to a “ landlocked cruise ship , ” he said he plans to make sure protocols are in place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before students return , and contact tracing , possibly electronic .
He also said some older faculty and staff who may be more vulnerable to infection may continue to work remotely from home .
The five undergraduate Claremont Colleges , which allow their students to take courses at any of their campuses , are aiming for a joint decision by June or July on a fall start date .
“ Every time you peel the onion , ” Oliver said , “ there ’ s a level of complexity that ’ s difficult @ @ @ @

It’s fall and here’s what college life could look like:
Students are back in class — but spaced apart in auditoriums, fitness centers, even outdoors. They’re eating cafeteria food again — but taking it to go rather than sitting with friends in dining halls. They’ve returned to campus housing — but are living in single rooms or a small group dorm, where if anyone gets infected with COVID-19, everyone would be assessed and possibly quarantined.
It’s not an ideal college experience. But most students are elated to return to campus after a spring term of isolation and staring at computer screens in online classes.
This back-to-school scenario, described by Claremont McKenna College, offers potential answers to the biggest question in higher education today: How will colleges reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic? Many colleges and universities across the nation, distressed by the negative financial, academic and social impact of continued online learning, are scrambling to find ways to safely educate and provide for their students in the fall.
Already, several universities, including Boston, Brown, Purdue and New York, have said they plan to reopen this fall or are leaning toward doing so. San Jose State, Cal State East Bay and UC San Diego have said they intend to offer a combination of in-person and online instruction. USC is exploring a later start for on-campus classes, retrofitting facilities for social distancing and hybrid courses with online and in-person activities.
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UC President Janet Napolitano said this week that campuses will be required to satisfy systemwide guidelines to ensure public health and safety before being allowed to reopen. “Should there be a physical reopening of the campuses, it won’t be 100%,” she told the Bay Area Council. “It will probably be greatly reduced.”
Most universities are planning for multiple scenarios depending on public health assessments and their own campus needs — and all of them are different, experts said.
“Everyone has a different version of a scenario that seems like the most obvious one for them. It’s hard to find some consistency,” said Edward J. Maloney, who heads a Georgetown University center on teaching, learning and technology. “From most people’s perspective, back to normal is the goal. But even if you’re back to normal, it’s going to be a new normal.”
California K-12 schools also have started to examine how to reopen campuses, and Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday that schools may be able to open as early as July. Each district will make its own decision, however. Local officials caution that health and safety measures are far from being in place and teacher unions said workplace changes are subject to bargaining.
Maloney and Joshua Kim, an online learning expert at Dartmouth College, recently laid out 15 fall scenarios that colleges are discussing. They include starting the fall term later, bringing students back in waves of smaller groups, using hybrid online and in-person instruction or redesigning courses into shorter blocks.
For Claremont McKenna and other small liberal arts colleges, the urgency to reopen campuses is particularly strong. Close-knit residential learning communities are their signature brand. Claremont McKenna educates 1,300 undergraduates, with average class sizes of 18. Nearly all students live on campus. And President Hiram Chodosh and faculty routinely invite them to their homes for dinner.
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Hiram Chodosh, president of Claremont McKenna College
(Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
“We thrive on social density,” Chodosh said. “So the dispersion of a community that thrives on social density is not a sustainable value proposition for us.”
In a message to the campus community, Chodosh said the most likely scenario for fall would be a modified return to campus, provided that public health improves, stay-at-home restrictions relax and testing and contact tracing capabilities increase.
Claremont McKenna students who don’t want to return this fall can apply for deferment. International students who can’t get visas to return or those at greater risk, such as immuno-compromised students, can continue online classes.
But many students who are chafing at home, stuck in their childhood bedrooms far from friends and the independent lives they’ve built, say they can’t wait to return to campus.
Charlie Streator, a junior in history who has returned to his Connecticut home for spring term, said he misses the learning that happens outside the classroom. One of his best memories, he said, was “being very nerdy together” with his classmates and professor after class. He recalled a huge debate over the most important war in history — Streator argued for the Crimean War, his friend insisted on the Franco-Prussian War. The professor invited the group to his home the following Sunday for Easter dinner with his family.
“I was like literally at that moment, ‘Oh so this is why I go to a small liberal arts college,’ ” Streator said. “What fills our day now is like a Zoom class or doing our homework, but there’s nothing else because we’re just trapped in our house. For a lot of people, it’s been a super isolating time.”
Liam Brennan-Burke, a junior studying economics and international relations, misses the bonding with friends: The late night study sessions that build community through “joint suffering,” the ping pong games that balance that out.
Zach Fogel, a sophomore majoring in philosophy and public affairs, said many of his friends are planning to take time off from school if they can’t return to campus. Fogel quarterbacks for the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps football team and sings with a campus a cappella group.
“A huge part of our school experience is being together,” he said. “So whatever I’ve got to do to go back, I’ll do it. Whatever the restrictions are, I’ll follow them.”
The campus is a lifeline for Brooklyn Montgomery, a low-income, first-generation sophomore who experienced homelessness and hardship growing up with her single mother in Tucson. She said the college has given her a full scholarship, along with a secure place to live, a campus job and plenty to eat — and, she added, a top-notch program in government, her passion. The college has allowed her to stay in campus housing during the pandemic because she has nowhere safe to go.
“CMC has really taken care of me, “ she said. “I definitely want to be here in the fall.”
That widespread sentiment has sent Claremont McKenna staff into overdrive — often working 12-hour days, seven days a week since the pandemic intensified in mid-March — as they plan reopening scenarios. They are consulting healthcare professionals but mainly using their own expertise to prepare for myriad situations, including a worst case scenario of a second wave COVID-19 infection hitting simultaneously with flu season, sending everyone off campus again.
Sharon Basso, vice president of student affairs, and her staff have assembled an Excel document with nearly 25 tabs laying out myriad details. Basso stressed that the campus will take the lead from public health officials and incorporate protocols for testing, quarantines, contact tracing and social distancing.
To teach classes with enough physical distancing, the college is considering changing venues and scheduling. Dean of Students Dianna Graves said faculty may teach smaller classes in multiple sections, extending hours into the night. They may have half the class attend in person one day while the other half does so online, then flip the next day. They may move classes into larger spaces, including the auditorium and fitness center, and are considering buying more outdoor furniture to meet in open space during good weather.
To ensure safe living arrangements, Claremont McKenna has leased nearby apartments that could accommodate more than 100 additional students. Another idea is to group students in clusters, similar to a family unit, and limit their close contact with those on other floors.
Basso said officials are looking at installing hand sanitizer stations at the entrance of each residence hall and making health kits for each student with a thermometer, mask, gloves, Tylenol and Gatorade. They plan to continue tele-medical services, including mental health counseling. And they’re preparing for a range of dining options, including take-out meals only or eating in cafeterias but at a distance.
The level of detail extends to whether they should set higher water temperatures for washing machines and whether they should invest in ethernet cables and ports in case WiFi bandwidth is overwhelmed by a return to campus that still includes widespread online learning.
“These strategies may not work. They may not be feasible,” Chodosh cautioned. “But we need to exhaust the path before we get to that particular dead end.”
Similar planning is underway at Claremont McKenna’s four sister undergraduate institutions in the Claremont Colleges consortium. Pomona College President G. Gabrielle Starr said the campus is considering delaying the start of fall term or limiting students who return — possibly to freshmen or transfer students so they get the all-important on-campus experience. Students may take one or two courses online, then take subsequent ones on campus. Pomona also has secured additional leases for campus housing in case more spacing is needed.
Pitzer College President Melvin L. Oliver said he’s concerned that continued requirements for social distancing could compromise the experience of a liberal arts campus. But mindful of comparisons of a small campus to a “landlocked cruise ship,” he said he plans to make sure protocols are in place for testing, which may be required before students return, and contact tracing, possibly electronic. He also said some older faculty and staff who may be more vulnerable to infection may continue to work remotely from home.
The five undergraduate Claremont Colleges, which allow their students to take courses at any of their campuses, are aiming for a joint decision by June or July on a fall start date.
“Every time you peel the onion,” Oliver said, “there’s a level of complexity that’s difficult to untangle.”


latimes--2020-04-30--The coronavirus pandemic is terrifying — it's OK to laugh

Did you hear the one about the priest who baptized a baby with a Super Soaker to follow social distancing guidelines ?
Or this one : Did you know 2020 is a unique leap year ?
It has 29 days in February , 300 days in March and 10 years in April .
In the midst of a global pandemic , millions of Americans are finding that laughter is a relief valve as they shelter at home — laughing , mocking and sharing across social media platforms that are bursting with content .
In a montage of quarantine frustrations , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ puts vodka in the water dispenser and bathes in a tub of Purell , as someone sings : “ A little bit of sanitizer in my life … ” riffing on “ Mambo No .
5.
” Another video features a British family singing the iconic “ One Day More ” from “ Les Miserables ” with new lyrics that indicate all is not entirely well in the seemingly traditional household .
The videos , memes and jokes are shared tens of millions of times a day with friends , family and co-workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but no longer out of range during the coronavirus outbreak .
In the last few weeks , this lowbrow national comedy show has prompted cultural critics to ask what they always ask in the midst of a national trauma .
Is it appropriate ?
How soon is too soon ?
But anyone who has poured through their social media accounts in search of a moment of levity might ask a different question : Why do we keep laughing at simple , crowd-sourced content made in somebody ’ s bathtub ?
“ No one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” says Karen North , a clinical professor of digital social media at USC .
“ People are making jokes about our hugely altered lifestyles.
” As they mock the joys of family togetherness or showcase the inanity of sight gags you once expected to see only in a silent film ( check out social media star Ashley Nocera as she falls into a huge pyramid of plastic solo cups ) , they ’ re a balm for those of us who are determined to whistle past the graveyard .
“ Right now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an unprecedented way , we all have a shared worldview.
” The alpha class clown is TikTok , the user-generated social media platform that launched in the U.S. in 2017 .
As every 17-year-old knows , the app , which had about 65 million global downloads in March , features snappy , lip-synced videos largely devoid of dialogue .
As the pandemic spread across the nation in mid-March , TikTok quickly became the go-to platform for sharing short videos that spring from the frustration of being locked down with the people you love @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on its # HappyAtHome hashtag alone .
Missing your softball or baseball teammates ?
TikTok videos with the hashtag # virtualcatch show players tossing the ball from player to player , frame to frame , one of them pausing to spray the ball with disinfectant .
Do you like to dance as if no one is watching ?
Check out the “ Savage ” dance challenge , set to the Megan Thee Stallion hit song ; Tiktok says 9.3 million videos using the song were created last month .
Trying to stay in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ woman doing jumping jacks , as the camera zooms out to reveal a standard silver corkscrew doing jumping jacks of its own .
A ribald and youthful marketplace , TikTok has also been criticized for security issues and racist content .
But lately the standouts are simple and innocent fun , sometimes sent directly from the medical front lines like these emergency room nurses dancing in sync to The Weeknd .
Facebook , Instagram and YouTube have also been mega-players in what has amounted to a national humor fest .
Since the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has created half a dozen humor posts that have scored more than 60 million collective views across YouTube and Facebook , including a parody of Adele , “ Hello ( From the Inside ) .
” “ I don ’ t know that I ’ ve ever been this honest as a creator , ” said Mann , a singer who made a name for himself on “ The Voice , ” and later in touring stage productions such as “ Phantom of the Opera.
” “ I was bored and frustrated with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of what it might do to my career , ” he said in a phone interview .
“ So I just went into the bathroom while my toddler was napping and made a video.
” Four days later , his “ My Corona ” video had racked up a stunning 20 million views .
“ I ’ ve sung for two presidents , ” Mann said .
“ But I never got the viral presence I got from singing into a roll of toilet paper.
” Recently , he posted a version of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a parent ’ s life without day care .
It drew an instant 5 million hits .
Some pop culture moments of the past have proved to be irresistible to producers .
Are there countless parodies of the Kinks ’ classic song “ Lola ” ?
( Did you have to ask ? )
Many of the humorous bits are spontaneous , made by the kid down the block or aspiring performers such as Mallory Gillin , 27 , and Sarah Mantey , 25 , who have posted several coronavirus videos .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I was a little kid , ” Gillin said .
“ And I just got bored and did this.
” With deadpan expressions suited to the moment , she and Mantey , her roommate , spoofed the Knack ’ s “ My Sharona , ” with a YouTube post called “ Why Corona , ” a song that “ goes out to all the toilet paper hoarders and open-air coughers.
” The unemployed Los Feliz residents said they recorded it in a couple of takes over 15 minutes , followed by a bit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how it might be received amid a global pandemic ?
“ I did think about it a lot while writing it … to think how people are struggling , ” Gillin said by phone .
“ But I think there will always be a place for comedy .
It ’ s a place for people to come together.
” Compared to the newer platforms , Facebook might seem a musty Morse code — the site where grandma shares her puppy pics .
But Facebook remains the gargantuan social media site in the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at NewsWhip , a site that tracks how content does on social networks , filtered Facebook for “ ha-ha ” reactions to pandemic-related posts .
Comedian Laura Clery came out on top with the three top humor videos in early April , led by “ Canceling Everything Is a Dream Come True , ” on the hidden perks of coronavirus lockdowns .
It features Clery and her husband dealing with the full range of corona frustrations : mocking their reluctance to leave their house and their decision to order takeout instead ( “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ couch ” ) and working from home ( “ unfortunately , Bill , all my files are at the office .
I can ’ t get any work done today.
” ) .
Are there in-law jokes ?
Of course .
Him : “ I can ’ t believe my parents had to cancel their flights because of all this.
” Her : “ I was really looking forward to them living with us for three weeks.
” Celebrities have weighed in too .
Actor John Krasinski racked up tens of millions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Good News , ” with celebrity appearances , jokes and , lately , virtual proms .
But celebrities don ’ t have a lock on this free form , open-mic talent show .
“ I put my symptoms into WebMD & it turns out I just have kids , ” Lisa Munn , who goes by the name Sarcastic Mommy , tweeted .
“ My apartment is starting to resemble Vegas .
Dark .
No sense of time .
Alcohol at all hours , ” tweeted Tracy Martin , a Toluca Lake actress/writer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Martin was a little more philosophical .
“ Humor is always important in times of crisis and massive stress ... .
I love a good laugh to distract me.
” Since the time of Mark Twain , the comedy axiom has been : “ Humor equals tragedy plus time.
” The assassination of President Kennedy was followed by weeks of somber self-reflection .
Stand-ups struggled .
Comic Mort Sahl went so far as to nearly give up show business to concentrate on political issues , before eventually returning to comedy in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2001 , terrorist attacks , a stunned nation had no idea when it would be acceptable to laugh again , till David Letterman stepped up a week later with a somber monologue , insisting : Life must go on .
“ Saturday Night Live ” struggled longer with Sept. 11 , unable to move forward until almost three weeks later , with an opening that featured firefighters with Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and a performance by Paul Simon .
But the 2020 pandemic is different in many ways .
Rolling out gradually , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where were you ?
” shock value of an assassination or political attack and seems , at the moment , never ending .
Writing for the Atlantic , Megan Garber notes that time is a “ deeply uncertain variable .
The new virus is patient .
It hides in plain sight .
Days , weeks , months , years of this.
” North notes that the current crisis differs from past traumas in other ways , saying that the world is on the same journey , that we have a common enemy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a punch line is shared across a broader audience , ” she said .
Writer-comedian Jensen Karp , a tough critic of social media , says that history might go easy on the outpouring of humor amid this tragedy .
“ I mean , even before the global pandemic I questioned every tweet or Instagram post , ” said the wry host of “ The No-Sports Report ” podcast .
“ ‘ Why would I post something so stupid ?
’ is a constant question swirling in my head , especially now that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ normal is .
“ But it would appear that people need an escape .
I only seem hesitant because I ’ m such an obsessive downer and would rather just play out every terrible scenario we ’ re destined to encounter in the future .
But don ’ t be like me .
It ’ s no fun .
”

Singer Chris Mann has created half a dozen parody videos, including this one, “Hello (From the Inside),” a spoof of Adele’s hit, that have attracted more than 60 million views.
Did you hear the one about the priest who baptized a baby with a Super Soaker to follow social distancing guidelines?
Or this one: Did you know 2020 is a unique leap year? It has 29 days in February, 300 days in March and 10 years in April.
In the midst of a global pandemic, millions of Americans are finding that laughter is a relief valve as they shelter at home — laughing, mocking and sharing across social media platforms that are bursting with content.
Advertisement
In a montage of quarantine frustrations, a woman irons her toilet paper, puts vodka in the water dispenser and bathes in a tub of Purell, as someone sings: “A little bit of sanitizer in my life …” riffing on “Mambo No. 5.”
Another video features a British family singing the iconic “One Day More” from “Les Miserables” with new lyrics that indicate all is not entirely well in the seemingly traditional household.
The videos, memes and jokes are shared tens of millions of times a day with friends, family and co-workers who are literally out of touch, but no longer out of range during the coronavirus outbreak.
In the last few weeks, this lowbrow national comedy show has prompted cultural critics to ask what they always ask in the midst of a national trauma. Is it appropriate? How soon is too soon?
But anyone who has poured through their social media accounts in search of a moment of levity might ask a different question: Why do we keep laughing at simple, crowd-sourced content made in somebody’s bathtub?
“No one is making jokes about the disease,” says Karen North, a clinical professor of digital social media at USC. “People are making jokes about our hugely altered lifestyles.”
Advertisement
As they mock the joys of family togetherness or showcase the inanity of sight gags you once expected to see only in a silent film (check out social media star Ashley Nocera as she falls into a huge pyramid of plastic solo cups), they’re a balm for those of us who are determined to whistle past the graveyard.
“Right now,” North adds, “in an unprecedented way, we all have a shared worldview.”
::
The alpha class clown is TikTok, the user-generated social media platform that launched in the U.S. in 2017. As every 17-year-old knows, the app, which had about 65 million global downloads in March, features snappy, lip-synced videos largely devoid of dialogue.
As the pandemic spread across the nation in mid-March, TikTok quickly became the go-to platform for sharing short videos that spring from the frustration of being locked down with the people you love the most, generating 10.3 billion views on its #HappyAtHome hashtag alone.
TikTok has quickly become a go-to humor platform, with some videos coming from the front lines, including these dancing nurses. (TikTok/@nursessavyrose)
Missing your softball or baseball teammates? TikTok videos with the hashtag #virtualcatch show players tossing the ball from player to player, frame to frame, one of them pausing to spray the ball with disinfectant.
Do you like to dance as if no one is watching? Check out the “Savage” dance challenge, set to the Megan Thee Stallion hit song; Tiktok says 9.3 million videos using the song were created last month.
Trying to stay in shape? Watch the video of a woman doing jumping jacks, as the camera zooms out to reveal a standard silver corkscrew doing jumping jacks of its own.
A ribald and youthful marketplace, TikTok has also been criticized for security issues and racist content. But lately the standouts are simple and innocent fun, sometimes sent directly from the medical front lines like these emergency room nurses dancing in sync to The Weeknd.
Facebook, Instagram and YouTube have also been mega-players in what has amounted to a national humor fest.
Since the pandemic began, Chris Mann, 37, has created half a dozen humor posts that have scored more than 60 million collective views across YouTube and Facebook, including a parody of Adele, “Hello (From the Inside).”
Column One A showcase for compelling storytelling from the Los Angeles Times. More stories
“I don’t know that I’ve ever been this honest as a creator,” said Mann, a singer who made a name for himself on “The Voice,” and later in touring stage productions such as “Phantom of the Opera.”
“I was bored and frustrated with the loss of audiences, and fearful of what it might do to my career,” he said in a phone interview. “So I just went into the bathroom while my toddler was napping and made a video.”
Four days later, his “My Corona” video had racked up a stunning 20 million views.
“I’ve sung for two presidents,” Mann said. “But I never got the viral presence I got from singing into a roll of toilet paper.”
Recently, he posted a version of “Old Town Road” that mocked a parent’s life without day care. It drew an instant 5 million hits.
Some pop culture moments of the past have proved to be irresistible to producers. Are there countless parodies of the Kinks’ classic song “Lola”? (Did you have to ask?)
Many of the humorous bits are spontaneous, made by the kid down the block or aspiring performers such as Mallory Gillin, 27, and Sarah Mantey, 25, who have posted several coronavirus videos.
“I’ve written song parodies since I was a little kid,” Gillin said. “And I just got bored and did this.”
With deadpan expressions suited to the moment, she and Mantey, her roommate, spoofed the Knack’s “My Sharona,” with a YouTube post called “Why Corona,” a song that “goes out to all the toilet paper hoarders and open-air coughers.”
The unemployed Los Feliz residents said they recorded it in a couple of takes over 15 minutes, followed by a bit of post-production.
Were they concerned with how it might be received amid a global pandemic?
“I did think about it a lot while writing it … to think how people are struggling,” Gillin said by phone. “But I think there will always be a place for comedy. It’s a place for people to come together.”
Compared to the newer platforms, Facebook might seem a musty Morse code — the site where grandma shares her puppy pics. But Facebook remains the gargantuan social media site in the world.
Benedict Nicholson, head of research at NewsWhip, a site that tracks how content does on social networks, filtered Facebook for “ha-ha” reactions to pandemic-related posts.
Comedian Laura Clery came out on top with the three top humor videos in early April, led by “Canceling Everything Is a Dream Come True,” on the hidden perks of coronavirus lockdowns.
It features Clery and her husband dealing with the full range of corona frustrations: mocking their reluctance to leave their house and their decision to order takeout instead (“we’re definitely safest on the couch”) and working from home (“unfortunately, Bill, all my files are at the office. I can’t get any work done today.”).
Are there in-law jokes? Of course.
Him: “I can’t believe my parents had to cancel their flights because of all this.”
Her: “I was really looking forward to them living with us for three weeks.”
“Canceling” drew 46 million views and 440,000 shares.
Celebrities have weighed in too. Actor John Krasinski racked up tens of millions of views with his corona-based series “Some Good News,” with celebrity appearances, jokes and, lately, virtual proms.
But celebrities don’t have a lock on this free form, open-mic talent show.
“I put my symptoms into WebMD & it turns out I just have kids,” Lisa Munn, who goes by the name Sarcastic Mommy, tweeted.
“My apartment is starting to resemble Vegas. Dark. No sense of time. Alcohol at all hours,” tweeted Tracy Martin, a Toluca Lake actress/writer at @mstracymartin.
In an email, Martin was a little more philosophical. “Humor is always important in times of crisis and massive stress.... I love a good laugh to distract me.”
::
Since the time of Mark Twain, the comedy axiom has been: “Humor equals tragedy plus time.”
The assassination of President Kennedy was followed by weeks of somber self-reflection. Stand-ups struggled. Comic Mort Sahl went so far as to nearly give up show business to concentrate on political issues, before eventually returning to comedy in the 1970s.
After the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, a stunned nation had no idea when it would be acceptable to laugh again, till David Letterman stepped up a week later with a somber monologue, insisting: Life must go on.
“Saturday Night Live” struggled longer with Sept. 11, unable to move forward until almost three weeks later, with an opening that featured firefighters with Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and a performance by Paul Simon.
When Simon finished, producer Lorne Michaels joined the mayor onstage.
“Can we be funny?” Michaels asked.
“Why start now?” Giuliani responded, drawing a big therapeutic laugh.
But the 2020 pandemic is different in many ways. Rolling out gradually, it doesn’t share the “where were you?” shock value of an assassination or political attack and seems, at the moment, never ending.
Writing for the Atlantic, Megan Garber notes that time is a “deeply uncertain variable. The new virus is patient. It hides in plain sight. Days, weeks, months, years of this.”
North notes that the current crisis differs from past traumas in other ways, saying that the world is on the same journey, that we have a common enemy. “Our understanding of what might be a punch line is shared across a broader audience,” she said.
Writer-comedian Jensen Karp, a tough critic of social media, says that history might go easy on the outpouring of humor amid this tragedy.
“I mean, even before the global pandemic I questioned every tweet or Instagram post,” said the wry host of “The No-Sports Report” podcast. “ ‘Why would I post something so stupid?’ is a constant question swirling in my head, especially now that we have no idea what the new normal is.
“But it would appear that people need an escape. I only seem hesitant because I’m such an obsessive downer and would rather just play out every terrible scenario we’re destined to encounter in the future. But don’t be like me. It’s no fun.”


latimes--2020-04-30--L.A.'s politicians took his campaign donations. Then he admitted arranging a bribe

Long before he admitted arranging a $ 500,000 bribe for a council member , Justin Kim was known at Los Angeles City Hall for bringing in a different kind of funding : campaign donations .
Kim , his wife and his real estate appraisal company gave at least $ 66,100 over the past two decades to city candidates and office holders , including Mayor Eric Garcetti and a majority of the council ’ s members .
The Mar Vista resident also raised money for politicians , hosting fundraisers and asking donors — many of them Korean American business owners — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city commissioner , agreed last month to plead guilty to a felony bribery charge .
Now , after receiving questions from The Times about his donations , some elected officials have begun giving back at least a portion of the money Kim gave to their campaigns and office holder accounts .
City Atty .
Mike Feuer , now running for mayor , returned a $ 1,000 donation he received in 2014 from a firm headed by Kim .
He also gave back another $ 12,000 that Kim raised for him that same year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no indication any of these donations is problematic , but in an abundance of caution Mr. Feuer has instructed any donation possibly associated with Mr. Kim be returned , ” his campaign consultant John Shallman said .
Kim could not be reached , and his lawyer did not respond to inquiries from The Times .
The bribery case , and the contributions that Kim raised and donated , are likely to be a major issue for candidates in the 2022 election , said political strategist Doug Herman .
The federal probe into City @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also former Councilman Mitchell Englander , who agreed to plead guilty to engaging in a scheme to deceive the FBI , and Councilman Jose Huizar , whose home and offices were raided by investigators in 2018 .
“ You don ’ t have FBI investigations that take out sitting elected officials and then have no ramifications in upcoming elections .
It just doesn ’ t happen that way , ” said Herman , who does not currently have any clients seeking city office .
Herman argued the best move , politically , would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instead of returning it to Kim .
Some officials are doing that .
Councilman Curren Price , who faces reelection in 2022 , is planning to donate $ 2,600 — the amount he received from Kim ’ s company and Kim ’ s wife — to a fund that assists workers , said Angelina Valencia , an aide to the councilman .
Price is still trying to determine whether Kim personally raised any money for him at a fundraising event that Kim co-hosted in 2018 at the Grand Havana Room in Beverly Hills @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Price will also donate the equivalent amount to charity , she said .
Feuer and seven other L.A. city elected officials said they can not return some — or in a few cases , all — of the money to Kim , his wife or his company because the committees that took in the donations have been shut down .
Kim , his company and his wife gave $ 5,000 to Councilman Gil Cedillo between 2011 and 2017 .
Cedillo can not give back any of those funds , said spokesman Conrado @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been closed or the money is not available .
Kim also co-hosted fundraisers for Cedillo ’ s reelection campaign in 2016 and 2017 , TerrazasCross said .
He did not address how much money had been raised at the two events , but said those funds also can not be returned .
“ From what we know , these contributions were ethical , ” TerrazasCross said .
Councilman Mitch O ’ Farrell has returned $ 3,000 that he received from Kim , his company and his wife , according to his spokesman Tony @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he received .
Arranaga said O ’ Farrell is returning or donating funds from people identified by The Times as being linked to the FBI probe .
At this point , he is not sending back money that other donors gave at a Kim fundraiser in 2017 .
“ We will return other contributions when there is cause to do so , ” Arranaga said .
Political consultant Dermot Givens , who is not currently representing any city candidates , said it makes sense for elected officials to send back donations from Kim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Givens argued the money raised by Kim from other donors won ’ t be politically damaging unless those contributors are also charged in the corruption probe .
“ You ’ re not going to lose any votes over it , ” he said .
Kim , 53 , had been heavily involved in L.A. politics , meeting with council members and serving as a political appointee himself .
In 2009 , Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa put him on a regional planning commission responsible for smaller projects in downtown , Hollywood and Koreatown .
Two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the citywide planning commission , which reviews some of the largest developments in the city .
Last month , Kim signed a plea agreement admitting that he served as a conduit for a bribe , picking up a paper bag filled with $ 400,000 and delivering at least a portion to a council member ’ s staffer .
Although prosecutors did not identify the politician who was supposed to receive the alleged bribe , key details in their filing make clear that it is Councilman Jose Huizar .
A lawyer for Huizar declined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether he would return at least $ 6,150 in political donations from Kim , Kim ’ s company and Kim ’ s wife .
Councilman Herb Wesson , who is running for a seat on the county Board of Supervisors , received at least $ 4,300 in donations for his city political accounts from Kim , his company and his wife .
A Wesson spokesman said the three most recent donations , or $ 2,100 , would be returned .
Representatives of Garcetti and Councilman Paul Krekorian said they can not return some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ donate a portion of the money they had received to charity .
Garcetti is giving $ 2,000 to the United Way , while Krekorian is sending $ 700 to the watchdog group California Common Cause .
Council President Nury Martinez and Councilman Joe Buscaino are sending all the money they received to efforts to help people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic .
“ Councilwoman Martinez is repulsed that Justin Kim helped facilitate bribes , and believes that anyone involved must be held accountable , ” her campaign consultant Roy Behr said .

Los Angeles City Atty. Mike Feuer recently returned $12,000 in political donations raised for him by former planning commissioner Justin Kim, who has agreed to plead guilty to a federal charge of bribery. He also returned a $1,000 donation from Kim’s company.
Long before he admitted arranging a $500,000 bribe for a council member, Justin Kim was known at Los Angeles City Hall for bringing in a different kind of funding: campaign donations.
Kim, his wife and his real estate appraisal company gave at least $66,100 over the past two decades to city candidates and office holders, including Mayor Eric Garcetti and a majority of the council’s members. The Mar Vista resident also raised money for politicians, hosting fundraisers and asking donors — many of them Korean American business owners — to contribute.
Kim, a former city commissioner, agreed last month to plead guilty to a felony bribery charge. Now, after receiving questions from The Times about his donations, some elected officials have begun giving back at least a portion of the money Kim gave to their campaigns and office holder accounts.
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City Atty. Mike Feuer, now running for mayor, returned a $1,000 donation he received in 2014 from a firm headed by Kim. He also gave back another $12,000 that Kim raised for him that same year from other donors.
“There is no indication any of these donations is problematic, but in an abundance of caution Mr. Feuer has instructed any donation possibly associated with Mr. Kim be returned,” his campaign consultant John Shallman said.
Kim could not be reached, and his lawyer did not respond to inquiries from The Times.
The bribery case, and the contributions that Kim raised and donated, are likely to be a major issue for candidates in the 2022 election, said political strategist Doug Herman.
The federal probe into City Hall involves not only Kim, but also former Councilman Mitchell Englander, who agreed to plead guilty to engaging in a scheme to deceive the FBI, and Councilman Jose Huizar, whose home and offices were raided by investigators in 2018.
“You don’t have FBI investigations that take out sitting elected officials and then have no ramifications in upcoming elections. It just doesn’t happen that way,” said Herman, who does not currently have any clients seeking city office.
Herman argued the best move, politically, would be to give the money to charity instead of returning it to Kim.
Some officials are doing that. Councilman Curren Price, who faces reelection in 2022, is planning to donate $2,600 — the amount he received from Kim’s company and Kim’s wife — to a fund that assists workers, said Angelina Valencia, an aide to the councilman.
Price is still trying to determine whether Kim personally raised any money for him at a fundraising event that Kim co-hosted in 2018 at the Grand Havana Room in Beverly Hills, Valencia said. If Kim did, Price will also donate the equivalent amount to charity, she said.
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Feuer and seven other L.A. city elected officials said they cannot return some — or in a few cases, all — of the money to Kim, his wife or his company because the committees that took in the donations have been shut down.
Kim, his company and his wife gave $5,000 to Councilman Gil Cedillo between 2011 and 2017. Cedillo cannot give back any of those funds, said spokesman Conrado TerrazasCross, since the committees involved have been closed or the money is not available.
Kim also co-hosted fundraisers for Cedillo’s reelection campaign in 2016 and 2017, TerrazasCross said. He did not address how much money had been raised at the two events, but said those funds also cannot be returned.
“From what we know, these contributions were ethical,” TerrazasCross said.
Councilman Mitch O’Farrell has returned $3,000 that he received from Kim, his company and his wife, according to his spokesman Tony Arranaga — the bulk of such donations he received.
Arranaga said O’Farrell is returning or donating funds from people identified by The Times as being linked to the FBI probe. At this point, he is not sending back money that other donors gave at a Kim fundraiser in 2017.
“We will return other contributions when there is cause to do so,” Arranaga said.
Political consultant Dermot Givens, who is not currently representing any city candidates, said it makes sense for elected officials to send back donations from Kim himself to deter campaign attacks. But Givens argued the money raised by Kim from other donors won’t be politically damaging unless those contributors are also charged in the corruption probe.
“You’re not going to lose any votes over it,” he said.
Kim, 53, had been heavily involved in L.A. politics, meeting with council members and serving as a political appointee himself.
In 2009, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa put him on a regional planning commission responsible for smaller projects in downtown, Hollywood and Koreatown. Two years later, Villaraigosa reassigned him to the citywide planning commission, which reviews some of the largest developments in the city.
Last month, Kim signed a plea agreement admitting that he served as a conduit for a bribe, picking up a paper bag filled with $400,000 and delivering at least a portion to a council member’s staffer.
Although prosecutors did not identify the politician who was supposed to receive the alleged bribe, key details in their filing make clear that it is Councilman Jose Huizar. A lawyer for Huizar declined to comment on the case or say whether he would return at least $6,150 in political donations from Kim, Kim’s company and Kim’s wife.
Councilman Herb Wesson, who is running for a seat on the county Board of Supervisors, received at least $4,300 in donations for his city political accounts from Kim, his company and his wife. A Wesson spokesman said the three most recent donations, or $2,100, would be returned.
Representatives of Garcetti and Councilman Paul Krekorian said they cannot return some of their Kim donations, but would donate a portion of the money they had received to charity. Garcetti is giving $2,000 to the United Way, while Krekorian is sending $700 to the watchdog group California Common Cause.
Council President Nury Martinez and Councilman Joe Buscaino are sending all the money they received to efforts to help people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Councilwoman Martinez is repulsed that Justin Kim helped facilitate bribes, and believes that anyone involved must be held accountable,” her campaign consultant Roy Behr said.


latimes--2020-04-30--These uncanny photos show California amusement parks as ghost towns

Since the COVID-19 pandemic forced Magic Mountain , Disneyland , Universal Studios and other major theme parks to close in @ @ @ @ @ of whiplash and wonderland have become ghost towns .
The parks have grown eerily silent @ @ @ @ @ out to enjoy these empty metallic forests of Southern California .
At Magic Mountain , @ @ @ @ @ the Dive Devil ride .
No one knows when the theme parks will reopen , @ @ @ @ @ been discussing what new procedures will be added to protect guests and workers from spreading @ @ @ @ @ .
Theme park operators have been tight-lipped about what the future holds , but they @ @ @ @ @ for opening day .
For now we can just glimpse the empty roller coasters and @ @ @ @ @ day they will reopen .
— Hugo Martin

Since the COVID-19 pandemic forced Magic Mountain, Disneyland, Universal Studios and other major theme parks to close in mid-March, these giant expanses of whiplash and wonderland have become ghost towns. The parks have grown eerily silent, and wildlife has come out to enjoy these empty metallic forests of Southern California. At Magic Mountain, a hawk has taken over the Dive Devil ride.
No one knows when the theme parks will reopen, but industry experts have already been discussing what new procedures will be added to protect guests and workers from spreading the virus once that happens. Theme park operators have been tight-lipped about what the future holds, but they have clearly been discussing plans for opening day. For now we can just glimpse the empty roller coasters and dizzying heights and hope one day they will reopen.
— Hugo Martin
SUPERMAN
The Superman roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain peaks at 415 feet and reaches a top speed of 104 mph. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
REVOULTION AND TATSU
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The New Revolution and Tatsu cross paths at Six Flags Magic Mountain. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS
Drone images of Universal Studios Hollywood. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS
Universal Studios looking very empty. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
SCREAM
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The Scream roller coaster sits dormant next to an empty parking lot. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
FLIGHT OF THE HIPPOGRIFF
Universal Studios’ Flight of the Hippogriff roller coaster in the time of the coronavirus. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
X2
Shadows from the X2 roller coaster at Six Flags fall over an empty parking lot. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
GOLDEN BEAR THEATER
Lush foliage surrounds the Golden Bear Theater at Six Flags. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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SUPERMAN TOWERS OVER GOLIATH
Superman towers over the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
MAGIC MOUNTAIN
A huge development is being built behind Magic Mountain. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)