It is spring once again, and our discontented winter slowly winds it way to a glorious "first dose summer" and, hopefully, a "second dose fall" that brings us ever closer to something like normal here in Canada. Yet for now we are still locked down in Ontario as the measures the current provincial government put … Continue reading Coronavirus 12: On the arbitrary nature of local enforcement of provincial rules
Tag: Health
Coronavirus 11: third wave’s the charm
It's rare that a policy decision meets with almost universal disdain and derision. Angering and disappointing detractors and supporters in equal measure, while still not really addressing the root problem, takes a special kind of skill. We here in Ontario were witness to just such a total collapse of governance on April 16, when provincial … Continue reading Coronavirus 11: third wave’s the charm
Coronavirus 9: an ounce of prevention
In November 1686, King Louis XIV underwent a successful operation to relieve the immense discomfort of an anal fistula. This was, for the time, no small feat given that part of his prior treatment included the use of red hot irons and he was just as likely to have died from the surgical procedure than … Continue reading Coronavirus 9: an ounce of prevention
Coronavirus 8: masking up and throwing down
The pandemic has introduced me to a guilty pleasure that I must confess: I really enjoy watching videos of people freaking out about having to wear a mask or other protective face covering in public places and when shopping. It is equal parts educational and deeply disturbing to watch someone simply lose. their. shit. when … Continue reading Coronavirus 8: masking up and throwing down
Coronavirus 7: perfect, beautiful, nasty
This is a short post, and it is merely to state this: I genuinely don't think the current President of the United States knows the difference between positive and negative when it comes to the results of medical tests. I think people around him have probably patiently explained this to him multiple times, to no … Continue reading Coronavirus 7: perfect, beautiful, nasty
Coronavirus 6: distance decay
There is an important but perhaps underused concept in geography known as distance decay. While this emerges most directly from Waldo Tobler's "first law of geography," it is easy enough to understand without ever having read the academic research behind it. Tobler's first law states that "everything is related to everything else, but near things … Continue reading Coronavirus 6: distance decay
Coronavirus 5: the pandemic university
This past Friday was the last day of classes at my university, though no one has set foot in a classroom here since March 13, when the University of Windsor Senate unanimously passed the Emergency Academic Plan. This waived a number of bylaw provisions that govern how faculty are supposed to teach classes, and we … Continue reading Coronavirus 5: the pandemic university
Coronavirus 4: path dependence
This morning we ventured to the grocery store for some essentials. I say 'we' but my partner and toddler went to the empty playground nearby while I went to do the shopping. Inside, the supermarket had put in place a limit on the number of people who could enter the store at once, both to … Continue reading Coronavirus 4: path dependence
Coronavirus 3: lockdown
Things have escalated quickly with the coronavirus pandemic, and it seems the pace of events is outstripping our ability to follow them. At the same time, things are grinding to a halt as local lockdowns expand into restrictions on national and global mobility and social distancing means many people are spending a lot of time … Continue reading Coronavirus 3: lockdown
Coronavirus 2
Following up from my last post, the American Association of Geographers has now cancelled its annual meeting in Denver, scheduled for April 6-10. This was the right call, and over 60 percent of respondents to the AAG's one-question survey a few days ago survey said they were cancelling or discouraged from attending. Now across the … Continue reading Coronavirus 2
