Distant Together

A collection of positive, free resources to support us all through social distancing, quarantine, and COVID-19.

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#SongsOfComfort: "Nana," Manuel de Falla

It’s been a joy to be making things with the amazing Mo Willems recently. Here’s a lullaby — “Nana” by Manuel de Falla — and a doodle to warm us up for...

Yo-Yo Ma and Mo Willems, creating together. This video is a promo for an evening of musical doodling on May 31st. Yes, please. https://www.kennedy-center.org/mowillems

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Sure, the Velociraptors Are Still On the Loose, But That’s No Reason Not to Reopen Jurassic Park

“Trump is shrugging off warnings by scientists that the easing restrictions taking place across the country could cause tens of thousands of death...

“And will some of the employees returning to work have their limbs torn off and tossed into the air like a juggler tossing bowling pins? Undoubtedly. But we’re confident that with a few safety precautions put in place, we’ll be able to keep the level of workplace injuries and deaths just below levels that would elicit widespread public outrage. And keeping things just below widespread public outrage levels is our gold standard for all of the decisions we make here at Jurassic Park.” The U.S. has 4.25% of the world population. We currently have ~28% of the deaths from COVID-19. Don’t trust me: these facts can be checked very easily via Google. These deaths are hitting some of our most vulnerable people the hardest. Fight for life-saving restrictions.

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A virtual graduation celebration to be streamed live on June 6, 2020 at 3 PM ET

Dear Class of 2020, I am so sorry that you won’t be in-person with your friends and teachers and extended family to celebrate your crossing of an important threshold. I am also, however, extremely jealous of the lineup this online event has pulled together to honor you. Featuring: President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, BTS, Lady Gaga, Sec. Robert M. Gates, Sundar Pichai, Sec. Condoleezza Rice, & Malala Yousafzai

Special Appearances by: asapSCIENCE, Alicia Keys, Chloe x Halle, Kelly Rowland, Kerry Washington, The Try Guys, Zendaya , Mr Kate, Dude Perfect, Jackie Aina, & Zane Hijazi

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This might now be my go-to explanation video for the people in my life who are still struggling to believe the stay at home orders are valuable.

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Stories of Maine: An Incomplete History — Portland Museum of Art

The PMA will be at the fore of exhibitions and events to commemorate Maine’s bicentennial, partnering with the Maine Humanities Council to present Stories of Maine: An Incomplete History.

The PMA has put together a (free) partial online exhibition of their celebration of Maine’s bicentennial.

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MoMA Is Now Offering Online Art Classes for Free

The classes cover contemporary to fashion to photography.

Five free art classes through Coursera, aimed at improving appreciation of the MoMA collection.

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Songs of Comfort, a playlist by Yo-Yo Ma on Spotify

In these days of anxiety, I wanted to find a way to share some of the music that gives me comfort. Stay safe. [Photo by Austin Mann]

Yo-Yo Ma’s playlist “Songs of Comfort” is wonderful.

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Mashpee Wampanoag Solidarity

Mashpee Wampanoag Solidarity Handbook Table of Contents: Introduction: In This Document: A Toolkit for Allies Trust Land Background Contact Info: Five Steps to Support the Mashpee: Step 1: Become a Community Captain Step 2: Write Your Senator Step 3: May 3 Sacred Fire Action Step 4: Social ...

This is a little sideways of the mission of this blog, but when in crisis, we are defined by what we allow to slide. The sovereignty of the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe is under threat from the federal government, and they need support. This document outlines how you can help...without leaving home.

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List of free food options in the Bath-Brunswick (ME) area for anyone facing food insecurity right now. I’m sorry this is a flat image--I’ll share a text-based version if I can find one, or type this out later.

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Sourdough Starter

To which point, if you’re in the sourdough baking camp and struggling with it, I wrote a piece for Guiding Stars about common sourdough problems. This writing is part of my work responsibilities, but I think it’s relevant to share here too.  https://guidingstars.com/kitchen-smarts/the-sourdough-sometimes-rises/

And actually, while this comic prompted me to share the sourdough piece, the entire team (of smart, thoughtful people) is working hard at writing helpful articles around feeding yourself in quarantine, so I’d also generally recommend poking around the recent blogs more if that’s a topic you could use support with. https://guidingstars.com/blog/

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Seattle therapist, psychoeducator, and illustrator

Therapist and artist Lindsay Braman has been creating some beautiful and wonderfully helpful materials to support mental health during the stress of the current situation. Materials for adults and kids alike.

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This will all end.

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Download All 4 Murderbot Books For Free (Before NETWORK EFFECT Arrives)

Tor.com’s eBook of the Month Club

From today through Thursday, Tor is making the first 4 Murderbot ebooks free for the downloading, to promote the 5th, which is coming out in May. This series has been on my list to check out for awhile...I’ve heard many good things.

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If you either need homemade masks and related protective equipment or if you’re a crafter who is making them without knowing where to send them, this site is helping coordinate mask distribution.

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Video call from the TARDIS with these backgrounds!

Hosting a video call? You can now call from inside the TARDIS with these video backgrounds!

An excellent collection of TARDIS backgrounds for your video call background pleasure. It’s possible no one will see the inside of my house again...

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CovEducation

Continuing K-12 education during the COVID-19 outbreak

Free K-12 tutoring and mentorship online. They’re trying to reach disadvantaged students specifically and have some additional recommendations for getting support on their FAQ page.