COVID Poetry Corner: “Puppy School and COVID-19”

Puppy School and COVID-19

Treating your dog safely involves taking your little one to the puppy school
undisciplined dogs can make you and the dog look like a fool

Sit
down
up
stop
go

Yet another lock-down COVID order
as whether it is democratic it is on the border
seemingly for the public good
and if caught the COVID police will treat you like a hood
but so many politicians and bureaucrats controlling the COVID show
on warm sunny vacations they go
against the moral code we know
yet it is


wear a mask
wash your hands
keep your distance
stay in your bubble
and now with a new emergency lockdown order in force
it is like being in puppy school of course!
But bark and yap or pull and tug
you know who will be treated as a thug!

Having trouble with your New Year’s resolution to quit smoking? Think about lime juice according to a Thai study!

Randomized Controlled Trial J Med Assoc Thai

. 2012 Dec;95 Suppl 12:S76-82.

Efficacy of fresh lime for smoking cessation

Suthat Rungruanghiranya 1, Chatchai Ekpanyaskul, Chanin Sakulisariyaporn, Prapada Watcharanat, Kunyanit AkkalakulawasAffiliations expand

  • PMID: 23513469

Abstract

Objective: To determine the efficacy of fresh lime as a smoking cessation aid compared with nicotine gum.

Material and method: A randomized, controlled trial was conducted between March 2009 and September 2009. Only regular smokers aged 18 or older who were willing to quit were randomized to receive either fresh lime (n = 47) or nicotine gum (n = 53). Smokers were excluded if they were using other smoking cessation aids, allergic to citrus, or had dental problems. Exhaled carbon monoxide (CO)-confirmed continuous abstinence rate (CAR) during week 9-12 was measured as the primary outcomes. To grade the severity of craving, a 100-mm visual analogue scale (VAS) was used.

Results: There was no significant difference in CO-confirmed CAR between the fresh lime group and the nicotine gum group during weeks 9-12 (61.7% vs. 66.0%; p = 0.65), although 7-day point prevalence abstinence at week 4 of the fresh lime users was statistically significant lower than those using nicotine gum (38.3% vs. 58.5%; p = 0.04). Cravings did not differ significantly between the groups, although fresh lime users tend to report more cravings intensity.

Conclusion: Fresh lime can be used effectively as a smoking cessation aid, although not as good as nicotine gum in reducing cravings.

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Virus # 26: Chapter 1 Who am I

Chapter One “Who am I?”

My name is Dr. Evan Terpene. As I write this it is 2030 and I have just passed my 56th birthday. I am a cardiologist working at a major hospital in the City of Toronto. Better said I used to work at the hospital and with so much civil unrest and chaos the hospital now only has volunteers. Most of the nurses, doctors and support staff have died with Virus #26 sweeping the country and for that matter the globe. We took a severe hit with our five-year battle with COVID-19 and COVID-19 Plus back in the 20’s (which became widely known as the American Virus) and then out of the blue Virus # 26 virtually leapt out of the bushes at the beginning of 2030.

I live on a tony street in Toronto but there are few people remaining in their home. They have paid biker gangs (strangely reminiscent of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans) to patrol my street from looters and then headed off to their mega retreats in “Cottage Country” but Virus #26 knew where to reach them and then there was no more money to pay the bikers so matters are a bit rough outside. The biker protectors are now the looters.

My wife and two boys did not survive COVID-19 and COVID-19 Plus and I have only my 14-year-old daughter Alexi and an equally old West Highland Terrier Pill-Boy. What remaining family I have live in London in the United Kingdom. So many of them have died with this Virus #26 and COVID-19 and COVID-19 Plus. It’s almost better that way as those who perished would not have believed what is happening in the world. It’s painful and I am thinking these days inevitably matters will come to less than a happy ending.

As a cardiologist there was little I could do to stem the deaths caused by COVID-19 and COVID-19 Plus. Were the deaths caused by an underfunded medical system that was on its knees when COVID-19 and COVID-19 Plus hit and never recovered? The politicians promised us we would be prepared for the next virus but by the time Virus #26 struck Canada was bankrupt after spewing out money locally and internationally to deal with COVID-19 and COVID-19 Plus. It had turned all taps on with funding for COVID-19 viruses and then it simply ran out of money and credit. The slashed and burnt out hospital system was crippled with COVID-19 viruses hits and never recovered. Yes, I blame the politicians for stripping down the healthcare system. If they had properly planned staffing, drugs and equipment that might have given us a fighting chance. So when I saw them on television looking and play acting like they cared for us as a physician knowing what they had done to us and themselves, as most of them have died, I had nothing but contempt and by the time COVID-19 viruses had been beaten back the country felt the same way.

Today was a beautiful day and in better times there would have been so many people taking a stroll and enjoying the spring weather and the blossoms on the trees but alas those inhabitants are mostly dead or in lock-down in their splendid Cottage Country mansions assuming they survived the COVID- 19 viruses and have yet to succumb to Virus #26.

So I am in my living room with daughter Alexi and Pill-Boy and there is a pounding on the door accompanied by crazed voices bathed in too many opioids. “Open the fucking door or will blast your rich fucking head off.”

One of my Virus #26 patients Spike was a vicious and ruthless criminal known throughout the country. Of course, even criminals can have a “bum ticker” and he had a very bad one. He died at my hospital and Spike gave me his keys to his luxurious condo and told me where the guns, ammo and cash were hidden. As tough as he was we had formed a relationship. Like many a criminal he had been abused as a child and trusted no one. Before he handed over the keys he said, “I know I am dying of this fucking Virus #26 and the least I can do is ask you to protect yourself with cash, gold coins, guns and ammo. I got no family and no friends, only enemies and associates. By the way thanks for that morphine and how you got that I’ll never know.” Spike died peacefully in a cloud of morphine.

Guns, cash, gold coins and ammunition. You’ve got to be kidding. I am a peaceful man but living in some very unpeaceful times. Strange that before the COVID-19 viruses swept through Toronto guns and gangs had a bad rap but COVID media coverage left the daily menu of shooting, stabbings and violence in the shadows. Perhaps I should do that very Un-Canadian thing and arm and protect myself. Gun sales during the COVID viruses were very robust in the United States and I can see why. Of course, we here in Canada wanted no part of this Yankee “barbarity” and the survivors of Virus # 26 (yes there were some) were easily picked of by gangs of armed marauders. The unarmed were and are slaughtered

It was with a lurid curiosity I found myself in Spike’s condo. $2,000,500 in old fifties A sack of American gold coins, 3 Glock semi-automatics with plenty of ammo and probably a kilo or so of some white powder which I assumed was some drug. I was a reservist with the Canadian Armed Forces so handling that beauty of a Glock was not going to be a problem. The dugs might prove valuable currency.

Well back to my situation,the knocking on my door was getting hysterical so I sent Alexi and Pill-Boy up to her room put two Glocks in my belt and put a jacket to conceal them. Then I played the frightened” rich guy” and let the maniacs in and immediately had a gun thrust in my throat. ”Give us your food you rich fuck.” So I pointed them to the kitchen and they loaded up a sack with what little food I had left. They were ravenous and aided by some bourbon they dropped their guns and stuffed their faces.

Very calmly I pulled out my concealed Glocks and said, “This rich fuck is going to teach you a lesson.” Despite my Hippocratic oath I squeezed the trigger then dragged out the bodies and left them on the sidewalk. I would defend myself and Alexi at any cost and to hell with Hippocratic Oath. Two down and I had a feeling there were more to come and I felt no guilt or remorse. A fucking plague will do that to most people and if it doesn’t, they won’t survive. The hell with finding toilet paper. I’d rather have my life. Have I become Dr. Rambo?

Yet more collateral COVID-19 damage for the “public good” ? : Ontario enacts second COVID-19 and the COVID police will be there to “protect” us

NEWS RELEASE

Ontario Declares Second Provincial Emergency to Address COVID-19 Crisis and Save Lives

Province Issues Stay-at-Home Order and Introduces Enhanced Enforcement Measures to Reduce Mobility

January 12, 2021

Office of the Premier

Table of Contents

  1. Content
  2. Quick Facts
  3. Additional Resources
  4. Related Topics

TORONTO – In response to a doubling in COVID-19 cases over the past two weeks, the real and looming threat of the collapse of the province’s hospital system and alarming risks posed to long-term care homes as a result of high COVID-19 transmission rates, the Ontario government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health and other health experts, is immediately declaring a second provincial emergency under s 7.0.1 (1) of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMPCA).

Details were provided today by Premier Doug Ford, Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, Solicitor General Sylvia Jones, Dr. David Williams, Chief Medical Officer of Health, and Dr. Adalsteinn (Steini) Brown, Co-Chair of the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table.

“The latest modelling data shows that Ontario is in a crisis and, with the current trends, our hospital ICUs will be overwhelmed in a few short weeks with unthinkable consequences,” said Premier Ford. “That’s why we are taking urgent and decisive action, which includes declaring a provincial emergency and imposing a stay-at-home-order. We need people to only go out only for essential trips to pick up groceries or go to medical appointments. By doing the right thing and staying home, you can stay safe and save lives.”

Effective Thursday, January 14, 2021at 12:01 a.m., the government is issuing a stay-at-home order requiring everyone to remain at home with exceptions for essential purposes, such as going to the grocery store or pharmacy, accessing health care services, for exercise or for essential work. This order and other new and existing public health restrictions are aimed at limiting people’s mobility and reducing the number of daily contacts with those outside an immediate household. In addition to limiting outings to essential trips, all businesses must ensure that any employee who can work from home, does work from home.

These new public health measures will help stop the spread of COVID-19 by reducing concerning levels of mobility as the province continues its vaccine rollout and ramps up to mass vaccination when the federal government is able to provide the necessary supply to do so.

Additional Public Health Restrictions

Since the implementation of the Provincewide Shutdown over two weeks ago, the latest modelling trends in key public health indicators have continued to worsen, forecasting an overwhelming of the health system unless drastic action is taken. Escalating case counts have led to increasing hospitalization rates and intensive care unit (ICU) occupancy which has resulted in cancellations of scheduled surgeries and procedures.

Provincial modelling shows growth in COVID-19 cases has accelerated, leading to increased hospitalization rates and ICU occupancy. ICU occupancy by COVID-19 patients is now over 400 beds and is projected to be as high as 1,000 beds by early February which has the potential to overwhelm Ontario’s hospitals. The number of COVID-19-related deaths continues to rise and is expected to double from 50 to 100 deaths per day between now and the end of February. Notably, data shows that mobility and contacts between people have not decreased with the current restrictions.  A new variant of COVID-19 emerged in November. If community transmission of this variant occurs, Ontario could experience much higher case counts, ICU occupancy and mortality.

In response to the alarming and exceptional circumstances at hand, and to further interrupt the deadly trend of transmission in Ontario communities, hospitals, and long-term care homes, the government will enact the following additional public health measures:

  • Outdoor organized public gatherings and social gatherings are further restricted to a limit of five people with limited exceptions. This is consistent with the rules during the lockdown during the first wave of COVID-19 in spring 2020 and will allow individuals and families to enjoy time outdoors safely.
  • Individuals are required to wear a mask or face covering in the indoor areas of businesses or organizations that are open. Wearing a mask or face covering is now recommended outdoors when you can’t physically distance more than two metres.  
  • All non-essential retail stores, including hardware stores, alcohol retailers, and those offering curbside pickup or delivery, must open no earlier than 7 a.m. and close no later than 8 p.m. The restricted hours of operation do not apply to stores that primarily sell food, pharmacies, gas stations, convenience stores, and restaurants for takeout or delivery.
  • Non-essential construction is further restricted, including below-grade construction, exempting survey.

These measures will come into effect between Tuesday January 12, 2021 and Thursday, January 14, 2021, including the provincial declaration of emergency under the EMCPA, orders under that Act, and amendments to regulations under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020. 

“Despite our best efforts, COVID-19 is continuing to spread in our communities, our hospitals, our long-term care homes, and our workplaces. We are continuing to see concerning trends across the province, including a tragic number of deaths,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “We have made great strides in vaccinating tens of thousands of Ontarians, and we can’t let these efforts go to waste. Urgent action is required to break this deadly trend of transmission, ensure people stay home, and save lives.”

To help quickly identify and isolate cases of COVID-19 in workplaces and service providers permitted to remain open such as long-term care homes and schools, the province will provide up to 300,000 COVID-19 tests per week to support key sectors such as manufacturing, warehousing, supply chain and food processing, as well as additional tests for schools and long-term care homes. This volume of rapid tests would support antigen screening for up to 150,000 workers per week over the next 4-5 months in Ontario’s most critical workplaces. The province is expecting to receive 12 million Panbio tests from the federal government over the next several months and continues to pursue opportunities to purchase additional rapid tests.

“The trends in key public health indicators are continuing to deteriorate, and further action is urgently required to save lives,” said Dr. David Williams, Chief Medical Officer of Health. “By strictly adhering to all public health and workplace safety measures, we can reduce the transmission of COVID-19 and keep our loved ones and our communities safe. It will take the collective efforts of us all to defeat this virus.”

The government knows that in order to keep Ontarians safe, it is important that they are not forced to leave their homes during the new state of emergency. Ontario is exploring all options available to put a temporary residential evictions moratorium in place, and will have more to say in the coming days.

The additional public health restrictions introduced expand on the existing measures put in place to keep Ontarians safe and healthy.

New Enforcement Measures

Under the declaration of a provincial emergency, the province will provide authority to all enforcement and provincial offences officers, including the Ontario Provincial Police, local police forces, bylaw officers, and provincial workplace inspectors to issue tickets to individuals who do not comply with the stay-at-home-order, or those not wearing a mask or face covering indoors as well as retail operators and companies who do not enforce. Those who decide not to abide by orders will be subject to set fines and/or prosecution under both the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, (ROA) and EMCPA.  

In addition, all enforcement personnel will have the authority to temporarily close a premise and disperse individuals who are in contravention of an order and will be able to disperse people who are gathering, regardless whether a premise has been closed or remains open such as a park or house.

“Extraordinary action is needed to protect the health and safety of Ontarians as we deal with this growing crisis,” said Solicitor General Sylvia Jones. “Our government is providing police and bylaw officers with the tools, and the authority, they need to enforce these critical restrictions and protect public health.”

Schools and Child Care Centres

Based on the advice of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, schools in the following public health units (PHUs) will not return to in-person instruction until February 10, 2021:

  • Windsor-Essex
  • Peel Region
  • Toronto
  • York
  • Hamilton

By January 20, 2021, the Chief Medical Officer of Health will advise the Ministry of Education on which public health units (PHUs) will be permitted to resume in-person instruction, based on the most up-to-date data and modelling. Before- and after-school programs can be offered when in-person instruction resumes. Schools in northern PHUs will continue to remain open.

To continue to keep students, staff and communities safe, the following new health and safety measures will be put in place for in-person learning:

  • Masking for Grade 1-3 and requirements for mask wearing outdoors;
  • Enhanced screening protocols; and
  • Expanded targeted testing.

The government will also implement new health and safety measures in Ontario child care settings, such as enhanced screening to align with school requirements, voluntary participation in targeted testing and additional infection prevention and control measures to align with schools. These enhancements are in addition to the existing health and safety measures already being implemented in child care settings across the province.

Child care centres for non-school aged children will remain open, and emergency child care for school-aged children will end in approved PHU regions on January 22, 2021 as these elementary schools return to in-person learning.During this extended period of online learning, in areas where in-person elementary learning is suspended, emergency child care will continue for eligible families in regions subject to school closures, as identified by the Chief Medical Officer of Health.

“At the heart of our continued efforts to protect against  the spread of COVID-19 in our communities is a firm commitment to return kids to school safely,” said Education Minister Stephen Lecce. “Protecting our students, staff and their families is our top priority, and these additional measures build on our comprehensive plan to reopen schools and keep young children in child care safe.”

Workplace Safety

The Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development is taking additional steps to protect workers with the launch of the “Stay Safe All Day” campaign, focusing workplace inspections in areas of high transmission, including break rooms, and providing new educational materials to employers to 

promote safe behaviour before, during and after work.

Evidence gathered from COVID-19 related workplace inspections to date shows the vast majority of employers and workers are following COVID-19 safety requirements when working. However, when in a break room, a vehicle or not on the clock, there is a tendency to forget about the importance of wearing masks, maintaining physical distance and hand hygiene. 

As part of the “Stay Safe All Day” campaign, inspectors will use a data-driven approach to focus on workplaces with reported COVID-19 outbreaks, manufacturing businesses, warehouses, distribution centres, food processing operations, construction projects and publicly accessible workplaces deemed essential, such as grocery stores. The Ministry is also using a new data-sharing program, in conjunction with the Ministry of Long-Term Care and the Retirement Regulatory Authority, to focus onsite inspections of long-term-care homes and retirement homes. 

“We know the majority of businesses are operating safely and responsibly to protect their workers and customers. But as COVID-19 cases continue to rise, we all need to step up and take additional measures to stop the spread,” said Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development. “This includes increasing our inspections to look at everything workers do both while on the job and throughout the workday.” 

In the unfortunate event that an employee becomes infected with COVID-19, they may be entitled to federally funded paid sick leave of up to $500 a week for two weeks. Workers can also access Canada’s Recovery Caregiver Benefit of up to $500 per week for up to 26 weeks if they are unable to work because they must care for their child under 12 years old or a family member who needs supervised care.

Over the summer, the government enacted a new regulatory amendment that put non-unionized employees on Infectious Disease Emergency Leave during the COVID-19 outbreak any time their hours of work are temporarily reduced by their employer due to COVID-19, ensuring businesses aren’t forced to terminate employees after their ESA temporary layoff periods have expired. As part of the Safe Restart Agreement, the federal government is funding a temporary income support program that allows workers to take up to 10 days of leave related to COVID-19, preventing the risk of further spread in the workplace and allowing workers to focus on their health. and the COVID-19

Quebec’s L’actualité’s Magazine People of 2020 : Employees of residential and long term care centres (CHSLD)

The Quebec magazine L’’actualité chose their persons of the year in its January/February edition. Employees of CHSLD’s were amongst those selected and all of us can draw both knowledge and inspiration from the role they played in Quebec’s health care system during COVID-19.

One of the personal support workers covered was Patricia Hotte who has worked in a CHSLD for 35 years. For years she said personal support workers were ignored but this year we have been transformed from zeroes to heroes.

Since the month of March 2020 COVID-19 has claimed more than 80% of Quebec COVID victims.

One liberal deputy of the Quebec National Assembly spent two weeks at a CHSLD in Montreal and he said about women working in CHSLD’s, “These women are superhuman. They are full of common sense and compassion in performing their work.”

In Quebec these personal care workers have paid a price as in the 13 professionals that have died since March 8 have been “guardian angels” as the personal support workers have been referred to in Quebec.

Guardian angels are almost all from minority groups and suffer from sexual harassment,, insults and racism and consequently a very high turnover rate with 65% of such workers leaving their work after 5 years.

The Quebec government has gone on a hiring spree for guardian angels setting a goal of having 10,000 in Quebec, 6,700 have already been hired and will be placed in advanced training,

In June the Quebec government proposed an hourly salary increase for guardian angels from $22.35 to $26.89 but union negotiations failed. One union official Alain Croteau noted, “We call them our guardian angels but despite that they are badly exploited. This racialized group suffers from high unemployment rates and thy have inherited jobs no one else wants.”

Bravo for Quebec for its efforts in trying to increase staffing of long- term care workers and trying to increase their salaries.

(The author translated the quotes from French)

The Quebec magazine L’’actualité chose their persons of the year in its January/February edition. Employees of CHSLD’s were amongst those selected and all of us can draw both knowledge and inspiration from the role they played in Quebec’s health care system during COVID-19.

One of the personal support workers covered was Patricia Hotte who has worked in a CHSLD for 35 years. For years she said personal support workers were ignored but this year we have been transformed from zeroes to heroes.

Since the month of March 2020 COVID-19 has claimed more than 80% of Quebec COVID victims.

One liberal deputy of the Quebec National Assembly spent two weeks at a CHSLD in Montreal and he said about women working in CHSLD’s, “These women are superhuman. They are full of common sense and compassion in performing their work.”

In Quebec these personal care workers have paid a price as in the 13 professionals that have died since March 8 have been “guardian angels” as the personal support workers have been referred to in Quebec.

Guardian angels are almost all from minority groups and suffer from sexual harassment,, insults and racism and consequently a very high turnover rate with 65% of such workers leaving their work after 5 years.

The Quebec government has gone on a hiring spree for guardian angels setting a goal of having 10,000 in Quebec, 6,700 have already been hired and will be placed in advanced training,

In June the Quebec government proposed an hourly salary increase for guardian angels from $22.35 to $26.89 but union negotiations failed. One union official Alain Croteau noted, “We call them our guardian angels but despite that they are badly exploited. This racialized group suffers from high unemployment rates and thy have inherited jobs no one else wants.”

Bravo for Quebec for its efforts in trying to increase staffing of long- term care workers and trying to increase their salaries.

(The author translated the quotes from French)

Canada Cuts Loopholes: No More “subsidized COVID Vacations”

Government of Canada to ensure that international travellers cannot access recovery benefits during mandatory quarantine

From: Employment and Social Development Canada

News release

January 11, 2021              Gatineau, Quebec              Employment and Social Development Canada
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Government of Canada has strongly urged Canadians to stay home to stop the spread of COVID-19. As Canadians continue to make difficult but important sacrifices for their health and their communities, the Government of Canada has been there to support them every step of the way, including through the creation of three new benefits for workers who do not qualify for EI: the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB), the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB) and the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB).

The Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit, along with the other recovery benefits, was never intended to incentivize or encourage Canadians to disregard public health advice. Rather, these benefits were put in place to ensure Canadian workers could continue to make ends meet during the pandemic, and that no Canadian would have to make the choice between putting food on the table or going to work sick. 

To ensure these important benefits provide the targeted support Canadians expect, the Government of Canada is taking immediate action to ensure all three benefits – the CRB, CRCB, and CRSB – do not incent people to disregard the clear public health advice against travelling abroad. The Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough, will be proposing legislation so that, retroactive to January 3, 2021, all international travellers who need to quarantine upon return to Canada, including people returning from vacation, visiting loved ones, and attending to real estate matters abroad, will not be eligible to receive support from any of the Canada Recovery Benefits for the period of their mandatory quarantine. Individuals who are exempt from the mandatory quarantine requirements under the Quarantine Act, such as health care workers who need to cross the border for work,will be eligible to apply following their return to the country.

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) will update the application process for the three recovery benefits on Monday, January 11. For claims covering a period beginning on or after January 3, 2021, applicants will need to indicate whether they were self-isolating or in quarantine due to international travel. Over the coming weeks, the CRA will delay processing claims for individuals who are self-isolating or in quarantine because of international travel until the legislative process is complete to ensure those who receive the benefit meet the latest eligibility criteria.

The Government of Canada continues to strongly urge all Canadians to avoid non-essential travel and to follow all public health and international travel guidelines. Canadians across the country are doing their part to protect their loved ones, communities, health care workers and all of those on the front lines of this pandemic. This important change will ensure the COVID programs we have in place support those efforts, and are there for Canadians who need them most. 

Quotes

“The Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit was created to provide workers with a paid sick leave option. We did this so that workers did not have to choose between going to work while impacted by COVID-19 and putting food on the table. The benefit was not intended to encourage Canadians to disobey public health and international travel guidelines. We have heard Canadians and are tightening the eligibility criteria for our COVID recovery benefits. We will ensure that these measures have no unintended consequences and will target individuals who travel for discretionary and non-essential purposes. This is not the time to travel abroad, and if you make the choice to do so, you will not be eligible for these benefits during your mandatory quarantine period.”

– Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough

Life at Up Up and Away Investment Management International: Afterwards by Abnaki Proudfoot and Cornelius Korrupt

Afterwards (Abnaki Proudfoot)

I am a Dean of a small school of management located in Nunavut which is in the upper northern region of Canada. Most of our students are indigenous. Given that indigenous people comprise less than 1% of the composition of Canadian boards of directors and are equally unimportant in Senior Management Teams of Canadian largecorps we receive no funding from corporate Canada and only a tiny amount of governmental funding. I think this passes on a message that indigenous people are simply not wanted by Canadian Largecorps. The LBGT community are also just as “well represented”. Women weigh in at about 23 % of Board representation. Let’s be frank and say largecorps in Canada are racist, sexist and homophobic and their global inclusion and diversity efforts are window dressing to make them appear more humane.

I note that Mr. Hornet makes a very strong point on this but such strong language is rarely used against largecorp except for people that like to call it what it is. You see that largecorps aren’t afraid to use public relations firms to put a spin on their unhealthy practices and attitudes. I agree with Mr. Hornet that largecorps are greedy, opportunistic legal entities with their Senior Management Teams looting the profits of largecorp. I find it discouraging that the media has hopped aboard the anti-increase in minimum wages train yet remaining silent on the outrageous compensation raked in by largecorp’s SMT.

I also note Mr. Hornet’s flippant comments on the “in the pockets of largecorp” schools of business. It would seem any chump with a pocketful of change can have a management school named after him or her. Largecorp can then continue spewing forth so called “neutral management teachings”. Are we to honour those great men (and they always do seem to be men) who have lined their pockets off the backs of their employees and shareholders?

Again, key to Mr. Hornet’s attack is the downsizing and outsourcing by largecorp. This brutal practice is treated by largecorp as a cost saving and necessary measure, but it could be Mr. Hornet has hit the nail on the head that poor SMT management may be the key contributor to conditions deteriorating so badly that downsizing and outsourcing is a necessary condition for the survival of largecorp.

The most thought-provoking part of the book is whether largecorp can survive laced with a generous amount of sarcasm. While Hornet attacks largecorp with fury there is a good deal of humour and sarcasm which makes “Life at Up Up and Away Investment Management International” a good read. And it is not laced with footnotes and makes no pretence of being academic which makes it so refreshing and authentic.

There is the pain of Mr. Hornet with his suffering caused by workplace stress, anxiety and depression. He brings into play the personal effects of largecorp’s commodification of its workplace. It amazes me out of the ashes he found the courage and conviction to expose the nasty underbelly of largecorp.

I can only hope Mr. Hornet would focus on what he perceives as what could change largecorp. He has given hints along the way yet I sense the therapeutic thrust of this novel and what a better future could replace largecorp perhaps is best dealt with in another book. Either a social revolution or some type of wealth redistribution is required which will require legislation. The SMT manages so poorly it would fail to see its impending destruction caused by its own greed. It may kill both itself and largecorp in the midst of stuffing its loot bag. Halloween capitalism.

I would like to say I have suggested to Mr. Hornet his next book be entitled, “The Senior Management Team; The Pirates of Capitalism”. Monopolistic practices and greed of the SMT, or the 1% if you prefer, are the biggest and most powerful elements threatening capitalism and for that matter liberal democracy. I sense we are headed for a social revolution and I certainly hope it will not be fascism.

As a last note Mr. Hornet’s wish to attain fame by writing this novel so that he could make a fortune on speaking tours has been commenced. A First Nation diamond mining cooperative has given us a grant to bring up Mr. Hornet for a half term to teach students about largecorp. We might be a small school of Management but in truth we believe. Non Nobus Solum which in Latin means not for ourselves alone.

I am not worried about Tony. I have spoken with him in detail about his crucifixion by the pimps and hookers in the traditional schools of management. He is looking forward to this as giving him an opportunity to expound his views of largecorp. The more he is attacked the more he becomes part of and perhaps a change agent for a revolution.

So, a closing argument why is it that our school of management is the only one that has a course entitled” Marxism and Modern Management Principles”? I suppose when it is clear your student body has been rejected by largecorp Canada you might want to retool to query why?

(Abnaki Proudfoot, Dean of Frobisher School of Management, Nunavut, Canada July1, 2020)

Afterwards (Cornelius Korrupt)

As Dean of the Sheldon Steen Toronto University School of Business I am shocked at Mr. Hornet’s virulent attack on what he has labelled “largecorp”.

He has taken his personal and unfortunate circumstances as a basis to attack largecorp. And it is too personal to be reflective of reality at largecorp. He presents a picture of misery at largecorp and portrays its Senior Management Team as greedy and evil.

I can attest that many of our graduates are on SMTs of largecorp and often discuss with me how so many of their employees are flourishing in largecorp. Employee surveys make this an irrefutable fact. Hornet cynically demeans Wellness Programmes and mindfulness as desperate attempts by largecorp to oppress its employees. Is he so blinded that he fails to see the compassion and care largecorps have for their employees?

There is no obligation on largecorp to provide any benefits to its employees but despite this absence of compulsion largecorps offer extensive benefits to their employee base. Even Mr. Hornet recognizes this fact.

I will agree that the SMT is compensated well but look at the responsibility they have and the unique talents they have. We pride our MBA graduates on their expertise. Just look at the recent record profits made by many largecorps recently. To suggest this is a result of downsizing and outsourcing as Mr. Hornet does is absurd. Where are his footnotes and research?

This is a vindictive and terribly skewed effort by Mr. Hornet and very unacademic. Yes, we receive large donations here at this faculty from largecorps including a $6 million donation by Up Up and Away Investment Management International but we are academics and what we write is academic and not influenced in any way by our largecorp funding sources.

To suggest that the largecorp office worker is akin to coal mining children in Industrial Revolution England is preposterous. Let me conclude by saying working for largecorp is like Christmas every day for its employees.

(Cornelius Korrupt, Dean of Sheldon Steen Toronto University School of Business, Toronto, Ontario, July 4, 2020)

Life at Up Up and Away Investment International: Chapter 41 Largecorp and COVID-19

Chapter 41

Largecorp and COVID-19

Largecorps keep chugging on despite the pandemic. Many of them are gleeful with the wiping out of less capitalized competitors. McDonalds will weather the storm with its deep pockets. It is the smallcorps in many cases that will have to fold. But it rather depends on the sector largecorp is in. Airlines and hotels and the hospitality sector will be hammered. So certain largecorps may fall without taxpayer (government) support. It is hit and miss but generally speaking the more capitalized largecorp is the better it will ride the waves. Smallcorps don’t have the luxury of capital. Take restaurants for example many of them will fall but McDonalds, Popeyes or Tim Hortons will motor on.

One change will be the trend to Work From Home (WFH) which as a expense reduction method actually started years before COVID. Real estate is a big cost factor for largecorps so the more the employee can be moved to a home workplace down goes the real estate cost and that is in largecorp’s playbook. Employees can and always have been monitored at work and at home so this is no big adjustment for largecorp in employee spying….oops monitoring..

The downside in the long term is the fragmentation of the work unit. Virtual relationships may be technically efficient but they are leading to isolation of the WFH crowd, the lack of coherence within business units and the difficulty of establishing personal relationships which will ultimately affect the bottom line. Of course, it sets a nice path for artificial intelligence as when employees are out of sight they can be out of mind and more easily supplanted by AI.

Employees are more isolated and can be bullied unseen by their colleagues by the Senior Management Team and the Human Resources Department. The SMY will remain well cemented without the critical eyes of employees. What do they say, “When the cat’s away the mice will play”?

Will the office tower ever be resurrected? My thought is that the office tower will survive although diminished in size. If a visit to the office tower is required the concept of shared offices and common meeting rooms will gain in popularity. Again this is already the practice for many largecorps.

Largecorp will survive with all its quirks and ills but unfortunately for many employees of particular largecorps COVID may spell their job loss demise. However, let us not get so totally wrapped up in the dire circumstances of COVID and resort to a well known expression “all things will come to pass.

Expect a push by largecorps to promote a vaccination passport so establish proof an employee has had a COVID vaccination. This will reduce the liability for largecorps against employee claims the employer failed to adhere to its COVID protocols.

As a last word again I encourage largecorp employees to maximize their employer offered life insurance.

Good-bye. This has been a great adventure with you. Safe travels.

COVID Poetry Corner: “Las Vegas meets the state lottery and the accountants”

Las Vegas meets the state lottery and the accountants

COVID-19 is a very nasty game
Assuming you recover for months you may be lame
But whatever country you are from an obsession with numbers seems to be the same
Every day it is the same category of numbers that remain
positivity rate
serves you right for not social distancing and kissing your date
so up goes the case count
not wearing the mask causes it to mount
deaths
spewing from droplets in your breaths
amount of people taking the jab
avoids bodies going on the slab
this obsession with numbers never ceases
and the number of people facing eviction because the can’t pay what’s owing on their leases
public health officials leading the political team
spew out numbers like an accountants dream
seemingly forgetting these numbers are actual people many with suffering untold all hail these numbers appear frequently on a graph
spelling out a sickening math
a very unpleasant mass epitaph
might as well be spinning the roulette wheel in Las Vegas or Reno
or playing the state lottery Keno
you and I are playing the odds
fodder for the media clods
hoping you and I aren’t statistics on the chart
for the nightly news
because the next step is family and friends saying good-bye in the pews

Robert K. Stephen

l

might as well be