I know, my friend, that in these trying times it can feel as though nothing you do is enough, but know, my friend, that in these trying times what matters is that you at least keep trying.

If you are the type who watches the Olympics and comments on every luge and ski jump and triple axel by humorously saying “I could do that, if I wanted to,” take a moment to look at the athletes wearing N95 masks and know: you could do that, if you wanted to, you really could.

When they ask you how you can be so concerned about Covid given all of the terrible things that are currently happening, kindly but firmly tell them that Covid is one of those terrible things that is currently happening. * The 308th week: librarianshipwreck.wordpress.com/2026/02/05/p...

A recent study has found “that nearly 40% of children with long COVID are experiencing significant symptoms of anxiety or depression, many for the first time,” which is a reminder that despite what The Who sang in 1966, here in 2026 the kids aren’t alright.

When I asked the historian about what is going on in her class she sighed and said that most of her students just failed an open book exam. Then I asked the historian about what is going on in this country and she sighed and said that most of us are failing an open book exam.

I hear my friends expressing outrage that a billionaire was asked: “how do we get rid of poor people as a whole,” and at the same time I hear my friends calmly explain that it’s too much bother to wear a mask anymore, and so I fear my friends are doing their part of that “how.”

After staff members from the Australian Olympics team tested positive for Covid it was announced that the team and the games have medical protocols in place, so the next time you’re mocked for taking this virus seriously just know that you are in the company of Olympians.

When I saw my work friend I asked if he enjoyed his trip to the knight restaurant and he said yes though he added that ever since he’s been feeling ill, and though I wanted to remark on the irony of catching the plague at medieval times, instead I said: I’m sorry to hear that.

My brother-in-law keeps sending me documents (redacted documents) which he insists prove “an elite conspiracy to thin out humanity,” so I asked if that means he plans on trying to protect himself and others from catching Covid, and in response he changed the subject.

I keep hearing people say that “it’s so over,” yes, as regards so many things I keep hearing people say that “it’s so over,” but wherever I look I just see things continuing yes, I just see things continuing, continuing to get worse.

When your friends tell you that they are feeling sick and tired it is important to find out if they mean that literally, or if they mean that figuratively, but in all likelihood they mean it both ways.

When she caught it (again) my colleague said she was frustrated but only slightly and with a sigh she explained that everything happens for a reason, and it took all my self control not to reply: that in this case the reason was that she refused to take any precautions.

In commemorating that six years have passed since they declared Covid a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, the WHO asked: “Is the world better prepared for the next pandemic?” and I can’t help but worry that if you must ask that question you know the answer is no.

Six years ago as January ended and February began the WHO declared Covid a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, and though that may seem like a lifetime ago, the tragic fact is it was more than 7.1 million (reported) or 18.2-33.5 million (estimated) lifetimes ago.

I keep hearing people comment that the news is making them sick. And I keep hearing people cough so I guess the news isn’t the only thing making them sick.

You may have heard that the astronauts preparing to go to space wear N95 masks to protect themselves, which just goes to show that protecting yourself from transmissible viruses isn’t rocket science.

I sent my aunt, the doctor, the statement from the CDC which read: “Framing measles as an American policy failure is inaccurate and misleading… We are setting the global standard for public health,” and my aunt replied: if you have to say you’re setting the standard, you aren’t.

Apologies, my friend, I know in this moment you are being inundated with recommendations for what you can do to protect yourself from the dangers ahead, but please, my friend, wear a mask, for their are dangers ahead, yes, but there are also dangers around your head.

History does not repeat. When you see the news of a measles outbreak at a family detention facility, tell yourself: history does not repeat. You may recall learning about outbreaks at concentration camps, but history does not repeat, keep telling yourself history does not repeat.

When he came to my office he gestured at the machine by my desk and asked: “what’s that?” “an air purifier,” I replied, and with a confused face he asked “why do you…” but before he could finish asking his question he began coughing, and as he coughed the machine hummed quietly.

Considering that the groundhog in Pennsylvania saw its shadow it seems this winter season will continue for six more weeks. And considering that my colleagues and students are all sick with“something” it seems this plague season will continue even after winter ends.

If, my friend, you are wondering what (if anything) could have prepared us to protect each other for this moment, remember: that the pandemic could have prepared us to protect each other, please, my friend, remember: it could have done that.

Whenever I read headlines such as “Long COVID is here to stay— even in children,” I can’t help but wonder if perhaps we are not here to stay for much longer.

At this point you need no longer greet anyone with “happy new year,” for at this point the year is not new and it is not the other thing either. * A compendium of the 307th week of plague poems… librarianshipwreck.wordpress.com/2026/01/29/p...

When you see the news about the Nipah outbreak it is important to remember that should this spread: we are ready. Yes, thanks to the experience of recent years people and governments and institutions and businesses are quite ready, they are quite ready to just ignore it.

There were years (many years) in which friends and family would accuse me of being too pessimistic, yes, there were years (many years) in which friends and family would accuse me of being too pessimistic, but those years are over, and now I miss them, oh, how I miss them.

When they ask you (and they will ask you) how you can be so concerned about Covid given all of the terrible things that are currently happening, kindly but firmly tell them that Covid is one of those terrible things that is currently happening.

As they stood by the copier my coworkers argued: one was certain that AI is on track to cause societal collapse, while the other argued that humanity is on track to cause that collapse first, and when they asked for my opinion I decided to make my copies later.

I confess, when I read studies that find: “Compared with influenza and dengue, COVID-19 stands out for both the breadth and severity of its neurological manifestations, as well as the persistence of symptoms in many survivors,” I worry none of us can yet call ourselves survivors.

My work friend announced that he was “ready for medieval times,” and when I asked if he thinks we’re heading back to the dark ages, he shook his head and explained “I mean I’m going to the knight restaurant for a birthday this weekend,” and all I could say, was: oh.

I saw a headline stating “UK loses measles elimination status,” and shortly after that another headline stating “South Carolina measles outbreak is largest in US since measles was declared eliminated,” which just goes to show that as bad as you think things are, they’re worse.

My friend if in these trying days you find yourself at a loss as to what you should do, remind yourself that in these trying days a loss is the place you are at.

When I called the pharmacy the automated message stated: “flu cases are on the rise at an alarming rate, protect yourself and your loved ones,” and as I listened I thought how good it is that they are saying this, and how bad it must be for them to be saying this.

The climatologist told me historians will wonder why we didn’t do more. The epidemiologist told me historians will wonder why we didn’t do more. The activist told me historians will wonder why we didn’t do more. The historian told me that nobody listens to historians.

I asked the old punk about the reports of social media companies ramping up on censorship and after a moment the old punk replied: we need to remember the only thing we can rely on, the only thing we can truly rely on, is each other.

I sent my friend an article about how the “US government has lost more than 10,000 STEM PhDs since Trump took office,” and my friend (who is one of those 10,000) replied that: “lost” is a funny way of spelling “were fired or driven out.”

According to a recent study “dozens of CDC databases are not being updated,” which is a reminder (which is yet another reminder) that when you hear people say “we have the tools,” in reality, we are losing them.

My work friend is frustrated with all the people who can’t be bothered to brush the snow off the roofs of their cars, “I guess some people just don’t care” (he says) “about putting themselves and others at risk”, and as I looked at his maskless face I simply replied: “how true.”

When I was young I read somewhere that if you want to picture the future imagine a boot stamping on a human face forever, much older now I cannot speak regarding forever but in the present you do not need to imagine that boot, no, you do not need to imagine it.

My friend in Toronto told me that according to the news over the weekend they had record breaking snow, and in response I told him that I’ve been watching the news and things here are breaking too.

Please note: it is dangerous to venture out into this cold season if you do not take proper precautions. And please note: it is dangerous to venture out into this plague season if you do not take proper precautions.

Will the world as you know it end this week? Well it is possible the world as you know it will end this week. But as of now it is Monday and you are probably just at work.

I know, my friend, that when you look at the current news it may feel to you that we are in hell, but please, my friend, go take a look at the weather forecasts and you will see that hell is about to freeze over.

By now you have probably seen the reports that the chair of the panel that recommends vaccines has suggested “that shots against polio and measles — and perhaps all diseases — should be optional,” which is a reminder that this era of plagues is only getting worse.

My friend, the climatologist, told me this year is off to a bad start. My friend, the epidemiologist, told me this year is off to a bad start. My friend, the historian, told me this year is just getting started. * Week 306 of plague poems… librarianshipwreck.wordpress.com/2026/01/23/p...

As we discuss the news my coworker grumbles that all he wants is for things to get back to normal, but if this ongoing pandemic has taught us anything it is that normal never really comes back.

As we waited to check out the man in front of me looked at my cart and asked: “you also getting ready for what’s coming?” and I nodded at which point he asked “what’s with the mask?” and I responded “I’m staying ready for what’s already happening.”

My aunt, the doctor, told me a new joke. She asked: Did you hear who the US withdrew from? I replied: From who? To which she responded: Yes, exactly, from the WHO. And then, after a quiet moment in which neither of us laughed, my aunt, the doctor, quietly said: fuck.

I have heard it said that “The next 10-days of winter will be the worst in 40-years across the United States,” which I suppose is yet further proof that these really are the worst of times.

My uncle asks me how it can be that so many people still refuse to believe what they can see, what they can see with their own eyes, and though I want to say because so many people have become accustomed to keeping their eyes shut, instead I tell him: I wonder about that too.