This N That: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
Cover (Inside the Javits Center), Above (Exterior of Building). Images Courtesy of © New York Convention Center Operating Corp. All Rights Reserved.
By Musée’s Editorial Staff
Javits Center to become a field hospital
As New York state exceeded the 10,000 mark of coronavirus cases, the efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 continues. Andrew Cuomo has announced on Saturday that Hudson Yard’s Javits Center is in consideration to be turned into a field hospital to test and treat COVID-19 cases. This is only one aspect of a much larger plan for four field hospital sites and aid from the US Army Corps – this is his request to the federal government. “This virus spreads in density and that’s what we’re seeing in New York City,” said Cuomo. Unfortunately, New York City is now an epicenter for COVID-19 cases, accounting for roughly 5 percent of the world’s confirmed cases. Cuomo will continue to have to make these drastic and necessary decisions. He urges people to stay inside, nationalize the manufacturing of medical supplies, and close streets to give pedestrians more space. In the coming weeks we will see which of his plans come to fruition.
Image Courtesy of ©Google LLC.
YouTube relies on machines amid Coronavirus, more videos censored than usual
As most of its employees are working form home, YouTube relies more and more on machines to determine if the videos adhere to the website’s policies. As a result, it is reported that more videos might get deleted off the site as usual.
Under normal circumstances, YouTube uses a two-step process to protect its viewers. First, the videos deemed to violate the website’s rules are flagged by a machine learning program. In the second step, the flagged videos are then reviewed by human employees for the last world. However, machine learning is currently far from perfect. "This means automated systems will start removing some content without human review, so we can continue to act quickly to remove violative content and protect our ecosystem," YouTube said in a blog post. "As we do this, users and creators may see increased video removals, including some videos that may not violate policies.”
Image courtesy of ©Mike Groll/Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
Cuomo shuts down NY State
Starting Sunday 8 P.M, all non-essential businesses in New York are to be shut down as the state becomes a new center fo the global epidemic. Gov. Cuomo said that all nonessential government and private-sector employees should be working from home, while the transit systems such as MTA will still be operating, although on slower schedules.
Other businesses that are permitted to stay open are gas stations, pharmacies, liquor and food stores. The NYPD also started patrolling the streets on Sunday night, but the governor said it will take some time before fines, arrests and summons will be used to guarantee that people stay at home. In addition to that, the governor's office mentioned that it is possible for NYC to run out of essential medical supplies, such as masks and ventilators, within two to three weeks.
Untitled 22 from the series Christopher Street, 1976. Image Courtesy of © Sunil Gupta and Hales Gallery. All RightsReserved.
“Masculinities” Barbican Exhibit Closed Due to Coronavirus
For a short period of time between February 20 and March 17, London’s Barbican Art Gallery hosted the critically acclaimed “Masculinities: Liberation through Photography.” This exhibition showcased around 300 pieces from about 60 different artists, both well-established as well as up-and-coming, that all centered around the exploration and deconstruction of masculinity. The exhibit was most notable for its range of interpretations and perspectives on the subject, as you’d see anything from a young queer men showing themselves off in a vulnerable light to older, more modest looking men smiling for the camera. It was a truly varied exhibition that touted intersectionality and societal reflection at its core.
However, this gallery’s life was unfortunately cut short. Running for a little less than a month, Barbican had to close down its museum due to the ever-growing coronavirus pandemic all over the world (and especially in Europe), effectively killing off “Masculinities” before it was able to reach its intended peak.
