A shroud of darkness begins to intensify and cast its shadow through the chinks in our quarantine structures. Depression. Schadenfreude. Politics. Anger. The journals of the week of October 4 – October 10, 2020 following a week of political turmoil and surprising developments in the infection of members of the state reflect an emanant hostility and darkness in spirit. Many of these journals are political, and some not, but they collectively reflect a landmark change in attitude from exasperation and exhaustion to acrimony and antagonism. –Akshay Warrier, journal curtor

“The word is schadenfreude.  Taking small pleasures in someone else’s misfortune.  It’s a German thing.  We all experience it.  I think there is a little Democratic schadenfreude happening this week.” – David. October 4, 2020.

“I have always found it interesting how we use comedy as relief for serious issues” – NA. October 6, 2020.

“I remember reading a story a couple of days ago that one of the top posts on an unemployment board was a suicide prevention line. Trump does not care that these people are suffering due to no fault of their own, he only cares about his reelection chances.” – Kenneth. October 10, 2020.

  Journal article on correlated suicide rates and unemployment through COVID-19, emphasizing the importance of preventative measures.

“I hope that most Americans think about their vote at least as long as I think about tomatillo selection” – David. October 9, 2020.

“It is unthinkable that the president knowingly put his family and staff in danger just to support his ego and seems to have learned nothing from this experience.” – Joe Bagod. October 9 , 2020.

“It was clear he was struggling to breathe. He’s sick. Terrible. What kind of sick person would go through all the theatrics instead of just pausing to heal?” – A. Paprika. October 5, 2020.

   NY Times article with video about Trump’s downplaying of his disease.

“I hope they all get better because it is not in my nature to wish death on anyone” – Varoon Phondge. October 3, 2020.

“Here is a sense among many parents that I know that we are in the final moments of light before the darkness descends…I have one set of friends who are building a second vacation home, while another set of friends are struggling to find any work and cannot pay their bills without government relief. I hung out with both, together, today at the park as our kids played.” – AT. October 9, 2020