Yahoo for the vaccine so said the leaders of us guinea pigs!

What’s Not Being Said About the Pfizer Coronavirus Vaccine. “Human Guinea Pigs”?

By F. William EngdahlGlobal Research, March 06, 2021Region: Europe, USATheme: Science and Medicine

First published on December 25, 2020

Bill Gates is actively financing and promoting new untested vaccines supposed to keep us at least somewhat safe from a ‘ghastly” death from the novel coronavirus and supposedly allow us to resume somewhat “normal” lives. The Pharma giant Pfizer has now announced what they claim were spectacular results in initial human tests. They use an experimental technology known as gene editing, specifically mRNA gene-editing, something never before used in vaccines. Before we rush to get jabbed in hopes of some immunity, we should know more about the radical experimental technology and its lack of precision.

The financial world went ballistic on November 9 when the pharma giant Pfizer and its German partner, BioNTech, announced in a company press release that it had developed a vaccine for Covid19 that was “90%” effective.

The controversial US head of NIAID, Tony Fauci (right) rushed to greet the news and the EU announced it had purchased 300 million doses of the costly new vaccine. If you believe financial markets, the pandemic is all but past history.

Suspicious events

However it seems Albert Bourla, the CEO of Pfizer, doesn’t share the confidence of his own claims. On the day his company issued its press release on the proposed vaccine trials, he sold 62% of his stock in Pfizer, making millions profit in the deal. He made the sell order in a special option in August so it would not appear as “insider selling”, however he also timed it just after the US elections and the mainstream media illegitimately declared Joe Biden President-elect. It seems from appearances that Bourla had a pretty clear conflict of interest in the timing of his press release on the same day.

Bourla lied and denied to the Press that his company had received any funds from the Trump Administration to develop the vaccine when it came out they contracted in summer to deliver 100 million doses to the US Government. Further adding to the suspect actions of Pfizer was the fact the company first informed the team of Joe biden rather than the relevant US government agencies.

But this is far from the only thing alarming about the much-hyped Pfizer announcement.

The German Partner

Pfizer, famous for its Viagra and other drugs, has partnered with a small Mainz, Germany company, BioNTech, which has developed the radical mRNA technique used to produce the new corona vaccine. BioNTech was only founded in 2008. BioNTech signed an agreement with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in September, 2019, just before announcement in Wuhan China of the Novel Coronavirus and just before BioNTech made its stock market debut. The agreement involved cooperation on developing new mRNA techniques to treat cancer and HIV. Curiously that press release, “The Gates Foundation sees BioNTech potential to ‘dramatically reduce global HIV and tuberculosis’” 05. September 2019, has now been deleted.

BioNTech also has an agreement with one of the largest drug producers in China, Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd (“Fosun Pharma”) to develop a version of its mRNA vaccine for novel coronavirus for the Chinese market. Ai-Min Hui, President of Global R&D of Fosun Pharma said in an August statement, “Dosing the first Chinese subject with BNT162b1 marks a milestone of the global co-development program in China. We are closely working with BioNTech and regulatory authorities to evaluate the safety and efficacy of BNT162b1 and other mRNA vaccine candidates…”

This means that the same German biotech company is behind the covid vaccines being rushed out in China as well as the USA and EU. The vaccine is being rushed through to eventual approval in an alarmingly short time.

Both US and EU authorities and presumably also Chinese, waived the standard animal tests using ferrets or mice and have gone straight to human “guinea pigs.” Human tests began in late July and early August. Three months is unheard of for testing a new vaccine. Several years is the norm. Because of the degree of global panic engendered by WHO over the coronavirus, caution is thrown to the wind. Vaccine makers all have legal indemnity, meaning they can’t be sued if people die or are maimed from the new vaccine. But the most alarming fact about the new Pfizer-BioNTech gene edited vaccine is that the gene edited mRNA for human vaccine application has never before been approved. Notably, two year peer reviewed tests with mice fed genetically modified corn sprayed with Monsanto glyphosate-rich Roundup first showed cancer tumors after nine months as well as liver and other organ damage. Earlier Monsanto company tests ended at three months and claimed no harm. A similar situation exists with the gene edited mRNA vaccines that are being rushed out after less than 90 days human tests.FDA Lets Pfizer Test Experimental COVID-19 Vaccine on U.S. Children

“Explicitly experimental”

Dr. Michael Yeadon replied in a recent public social media comment to a colleague in the UK;  “All vaccines against the SARS-COV-2 virus are by definition novel. No candidate vaccine has been… in development for more than a few months.” Yeadon then went on to declare,

“If any such vaccine is approved for use under any circumstances that are not EXPLICITLY experimental, I believe that recipients are being misled to a criminal extent. This is because there are precisely zero human volunteers for…whom there could possibly be more than a few months past-dose safety information.”

Yeadon is well qualified to make the critique. As he notes in the comment, “I have a degree in Biochemistry & Toxicology & a research based PhD in pharmacology. I have spent 32 years working in pharmaceutical R&D, mostly in new medicines for disorders of lung & skin. I was a VP at Pfizer & CEO…. of a biotech I founded (Ziarco – acquired by Novartis). I’m knowledgeable about new medicine R&D.” He was formerly with Pfizer at a very senior level.

Human guinea pigs?

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is experimental and far from guaranteed safe, despite the fact that Pfizer, the EU and the notorious Dr Tony Fauci seem ready to roll it out even before year end to hundreds of millions of humans.

The experimental technology is based on a rather new gene manipulation known as gene editing. In a major article in the 2018 New York Council on Foreign Relations magazine, Foreign Affairs, Bill Gates effusively promoted the novel gene editing CRISPR technology as being able to “transform global development.” He noted that his Gates Foundation had been financing gene editing developments for vaccines and other applications for a decade.

But is the technology for breaking and splicing of human genes so absolutely safe that it is worth risking on a novel experimental vaccine never before used on humans? Contrary to what Bill Gates claims, the scientific answer is no, it is not proven so safe.

In a peer reviewed article in the October, 2020 journal Trends in Genetics, the authors conclude that “the range of possible molecular events resulting from genome editing has been underestimated and the technology remains unpredictable on, and away from, the target locus.”

Dr. Romeo Quijano, retired professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila, noted some of the dangers of the experimental gene editing when applied to human vaccines. Quijano warns of,

“the danger that the vaccine might actually “enhance” the pathogenicity of the virus, or make it more aggressive possibly due to antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE), as what happened with previous studies on test vaccines in animals. If that should happen in a major human trial the outcome could be disastrous. This serious adverse effect may not even be detected by a clinical trial especially in highly biased clinical trials laden with conflicts of interest involving vaccine companies. Even when a serious adverse event is detected, this is usually swept under the rug.”

He cites the case of another Gates mRNA vaccine candidate, Moderna, where “three of the 15 human experimental subjects in the high dose group suffered serious and medically significant symptoms. Moderna, however, concluded that the vaccine was “generally safe and well tolerated,” which the corporate-dominated media dutifully reported, covering-up the real danger…”

He notes,

“Exogenous mRNA is inherently immune-stimulatory, and this feature of mRNA could be beneficial or detrimental. It may provide adjuvant activity and it may inhibit antigen expression and negatively affect the immune response. The paradoxical effects of innate immune sensing on different formats of mRNA vaccines are incompletely understood.” Quijano adds, “A mRNA-based vaccine could also induce potent type I interferon responses, which have been associated not only with inflammation but also potentially with autoimmunity… and may promote blood coagulation and pathological thrombus formation.”

Quijano writes in the extensively documented article,

“among other dangers, the virus-vectored vaccines could undergo recombination with naturally occurring viruses and produce hybrid viruses that could have undesirable properties affecting transmission or virulence. The…possible outcomes of recombination are practically impossible to quantify accurately given existing tools and knowledge. The risks, however, are real, as exemplified by the emergence of mutant types of viruses, enhanced pathogenicity and unexpected serious adverse events (including death) following haphazard mass vaccination campaigns and previous failed attempts to develop chimeric vaccines using genetic engineering technology.”

Bill Gates, the mRNA vaccine makers including Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna, and their close allies such as Dr. Tony Fauci of the NIAID are clearly playing fast and loose with human lives in their rush to get these experimental vaccines into our bodies. Notably, the same Dr. Fauci and his NIAID owns the patent on a vaccine for dengue fever known as Dengvaxia, marketed by Sanofi-Pasteur and promoted as an “essential” vaccine by Tedros’ WHO since 2016. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (right) noted that Fauci and NIAID “knew from the clinical trials that there was a problem with paradoxical immune response,” but they gave it to several hundred thousand Filipino kids anyway. It was estimated that as many as 600 vaccinated children died before the government stopped the vaccinations.

Clearly the well-established Precautionary Principle–if in serious doubt, don’t– is being ignored by Fauci, Pfizer/BioNTech and others in rushing to approve the new mRNA vaccine for coronavirus. Messenger RNA technology has yet to produce an approved medicine, let alone a vaccine.

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F. William Engdahl is strategic risk consultant and lecturer, he holds a degree in politics from Princeton University and is a best-selling author on oil and geopolitics, exclusively for the online magazine “New Eastern Outlook” where this article was originally published. He is a Research Associate of the Centre for Research on Globalization.

Featured image is from NEO

seeds_2.jpg

Seeds of Destruction: Hidden Agenda of Genetic Manipulation

Author Name: F. William EngdahlISBN Number: 978-0-937147-2-2Year: 2007Pages: 341 pages with complete index

List Price: $25.95

Special Price: $18.00

This skilfully researched book focuses on how a small socio-political American elite seeks to establish control over the very basis of human survival: the provision of our daily bread. “Control the food and you control the people.”

This is no ordinary book about the perils of GMO. Engdahl takes the reader inside the corridors of power, into the backrooms of the science labs, behind closed doors in the corporate boardrooms.

The author cogently reveals a diabolical world of profit-driven political intrigue, government corruption and coercion, where genetic manipulation and the patenting of life forms are used to gain worldwide control over food production. If the book often reads as a crime story, that should come as no surprise. For that is what it is.

Poetry Corner: “Do you think you can escape your anger and forgive?”

Do you think you can escape your anger and forgive?

Back again with anger!
I have said you might be skilled enough to escape anger with self-compassion
and I think we can all do this

But if some act has been done by THEM against you
can you forgive?

The secular Buddhists
and the mindfulness gurus seem to opine everything is forgivable
as this is the way we open up and connect with humanity

However as one wise mindfulness sage once said to me
you are only human if in some cases you can’t forgive
so best to just not let them occupy your emotional real estate
but cautioned your anger and hatred kept contained and bottled up
gives THEM some added satisfaction over the havoc
THEY inflicted upon you
do you want to give THEM that satisfaction?
could it be that forgiveness is your huge win against THEM ?

Poetry Corner: “Escaping Your Hatred with Self-Compassion”

Escaping your hatred with self-compassion

Ok

Calm down

Someone has done you very wrong
perhaps last week, a few months ago or perhaps a couple of decades ago
you are angry, very angry
with time that anger may fade
but it remains like gum on the shoe
well what can you do?

Firstly recognize that you have this anger
and it is occupying your essence and being
perhaps even causing unhealthy inflammation and stress
you are creating a big mess for the liberation of your heart and soul

Perhaps it is time to show yourself some self compassion
as human beings can be tender
hatred can only dismember
yes you do not deserve to be in hurt and in pain
so acknowledge it and give yourself some understanding for what THEY did to you
do you feel the pain slipping away
perhaps not immediately but it may take months and weeks
to rid yourself of the curse of your anger
self compassion may require you open your heart
to rid yourself of the pain
assuming that they are pricks and bastards
do you want them to smile and laugh with satisfaction that in addition to THEIR dastardly deed
they have caused you such moral pain?
for goodness sake deprive them of their ill gotten gain
and jettison your hatred down the drain

Mutantism on the March: Chapter 15 “Willie Heads Back to Zortixia”

Chapter 15 “Willie Heads Back to Zortixia”

Willie hung up the phone and in a shaky state headed over to the bar for a stiff shot of Metaxa. The news was exciting but frightening. After hundreds of years he was going to learn about his past. After a few more Metaxa he had calmed down. Well actually he fell asleep with his head resting on the bar only to be aroused by loud knocking on the entrance door to the bar. In flooded some twenty Zortixians in loud lime green outfits similar in colour to tourists from the Mid-West United States. They hugged and kissed dumbfounded Willie. Amidst loud cheering of the Zortixians the telecameras were brought in and Willie was live! “I am really at a loss of words. You have told me of the fate of my parents. Due to their barbaric exile I have never seen my homeland. I am pleased to hear that my father was a wise and respected man. You have graciously asked me to return to my homeland and I am looking forward to learning about Zortixia, its customs and language but Earth is where I am required most desperately.”

After his brief statement concluded over the loudspeakers of the bar the voice of Trebor Algno, he premayor of Zortixia, boomed, “William my boy. It is a great honour to speak with you. The planet eagerly awaits your arrival. We look forward to greeting you with great honours.”

After packing he informed Costa, the manager of the bar, and informed he would be gone for a few months. So he packed 12 cases of Fix beer and 6 of ouzo. Aboard the craft for a two-week journey to Zortixia he chatted with the crew members and was impressed by their Zortixian forwardness and honesty. He passed the hours with them learning his family history including the tragic circumstances of his parents’ tragic exile. The crew polished off the ouzo and beer with great relish. The 25 cases of Iowaian corn whisky remained unopened.

Willie was greeted by a huge crowd and cut an impressive figure in his Pierre Mardin suit. The road from the heliport was crammed with joyous spectators waving the Zortixian flag and posters of Willie’s father. The entourage halted at the steps of the Legislative Assembly and Elmer Fudd the famous Creaturist shook hands with Willie and together they placed a memorial wreath in front of a statute of his late father.

“Boost”: A Gift to All

I can’t keep tabs on all Canadian films but in the last couple of years there have been some good ones like “Corona”, “Come True”, “Unmasked” and “Recon”. However, the producers and distributors of the 2016 Quebec film “Boost”, co-starred in by Jahmil French, will be available on YouTube for free until the end of this March (https://youtu.be/2xDTmPZmr18). Unfortunately, the 29-year-old Jahmil French died in his New York apartment on March 2 with the cause of death unknown. French was also in the iconic tweenie Canadian drama “Degrassi The Next Generation”.

Hakeem on the left and A-Mac on the right

The is the first I saw of French and he delivered a strong performance in “Boost”. French was nominated (but did not win) for best supporting actor for “Boost” in the 2018 Canadian Screen Awards.  

French as a young actor possesses a great deal of charisma and on the big screen gives a compelling performance. Although we can be saddened by the recent death of Canadian actor Christopher Plummer you can say we had a long career to follow and enjoy. But with French with such a limited film career his death is more of a tragedy as we think “what could he have done”.

You might label “Boost” as “teens heading in a bad direction” a genre which has been around longer than me although my first taste of this genre might be with Natalie Wood, Dennis Hopper and James Dean in “Rebel Without a Cause” (1955). So while many of us film buffs may recall this the film “Boost” may be an introduction to many of this genre and its message is well delivered.

“Boost” is a realistic thriller of Eritrean immigrant Hakeem (Nabil Rajo) and A-Mac (Jahmil French) as two “sort of” rebellious teens on the edge of criminality falling deeper into criminality and danger. This is also a “buddy” genre film as that is what Hakeem and A-Mac are living in their Montreal Parc Extension neighbourhood. Constantly they are in hot water with their high school authorities. Rajo won best actor for “Boost” in a film at the 2018 Canadian Screen Awards.

Both work at a car wash owned by Ram (Natare Guma Mbaho Mwine). Their side job as car wash attendants is to identify cars to be stolen by an auto theft ring lead by Ram. However seeing a big opportunity for a hotly demanded Cadillac CTS they decide to boost it without telling RAM but Ram finds out what they have done and keeps it cool. Hakeem and A-Mac walk away with a big bundle of cash.

Showing their immaturity Hakeem and A-Mac take a stolen car on a bit of a joy ride with a couple of young ladies consuming vast quantities of weed and beer. Hakeem gets out of the stolen vehicle with his cash attracted girl and A-Mac drives off with his girl and crashes killing one and inuring another. A very bad mistake when driving a stolen vehicle that might open up a can of worms for the auto theft ring. Ram portrays a very wise and calm man of African descent who is totally proud of his ethnicity but he never trusted the more flamboyant and daring A-Mac. Behind the veneer is a ruthless criminal.

A-Mac is a teen on the run while Hakeem professes his total innocence to Ram.

Jahmil French as A-Mac

Watch the film and its conclusion but it is fair to say Hakeem and A-Mac lose their teenage veneer quickly and perhaps unpleasantly.

Well acted by all with French and Rajo delivering compelling performances. Mwine could be seen as a vicious criminal but full of pride, dignity and gentleness and delivers a stellar if not riveting performance.

You can catch the trailer here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWGn6Ta0IUs .

“Boost” was written and directed by Darren Curtis and produced by Academy Award winner Bunbury films in co-production with Havelock Films and in association with Telefilm Canada. It is distributed by Filmoption International.

Mighty Moschofilero From Greece: One of Europe’s Most Underrated White Wines

I discovered this wine several years ago while in Thessaloniki, Greece. I mention the name here and most people have never even heard of it which is a shame. It is an easy-going wine reminding me of a cross between Gewurztraminer, Viognier and a Riesling.

Troupis Winery is one of its better producers so we try a Fteri 2019 Moschofilero. It is platinum coloured. On the nose peach, apricot, tangerine, honey, lavender and rose petals. On the palate an undertone of sandalwood with peaches, Orri tangerines and canned pears. A soft lingering finish.  Good for sipping as it is not brimming with acidity. I would pair it with grilled octopus, linguine with shrimp, calamari, sea bass or sea bream. I think it might handle moussaka as well. Drink the end of the year.

I have had better vintages of this wine from Fteri.

(Fteri Moschofilero 2019 PGI Peloponnese, Troupis Winery, Arcadia, Greece, $ 15.95, Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 647388, 750 mL,12%, Robert K. Stephen a little birdie told me so Rating 89/100).

Jon Kabat-Zinn’s “Full Catastrophe Living”: Stress

“The problem of stress does not admit to simpleminded solutions or quick fixes. At root, stress is a natural part of living for which there is no more escape than from the human condition itself. Yet some people try to avoid stress by walling themselves from life experience: others attempt to anesthetize themselves one way or the other to escape it. Of course, it is only sensible to avoid undergoing unnecessary pain and hardship. Certainly we all need to distance ourselves from our troubles now and then. But if escape and avoidance become our habitual way of dealing with our problems, the problems just multiply. They don’t magically go away. What does go away or gets covered over when we tune out our problems, run away from them, or simply go numb is our power to continue to learn and grow, heal and change. When it comes right down to it facing our problems is usually the only way to get past them.”

Mutantism on the March: Chapter 14 “The Zortixians come looking!”

Chapter 14 “The Zortixians come looking!”

By the time the Greek Gods had fled their tourist ridden island of Samos and established themselves in the dimension of Zlano the revolution in Zortixia had been completed. The surviving leaders of the Opposite Party had been banished to far away planets or executed by some of the over enthusiastic members of the Jiber Resistance Club. The neutering of the Opposite Party in Zortixia enabled the Zortixians to dispatch search parties to Earth to ascertain the whereabouts of the exiled Montenez family. Pinpointing an exact location was not easy as the blackbooter staff working on the exile had been murdered by the Jiber.

The Zortixians had to interrogate the earthlings for any relevant information, Well at least the Zortixians had the technology to land safely on Earth. Their questioning of the earthlings caused wild rumours to spread on Earth that there had been some sort of alien invasion. The media warned of an imminent mass invasion and medical authorities and politicians collaborated to issue “lockdown” and curfew restrictions to keep the terrorized earthlings under control.

The Zortixians were quite enjoying their conversations with the earthlings. As might be expected the initial reaction to the strangely clad Zortixians and spacecraft was terror but as the Zortixians showed no hostility but rather curiosity many of the earthlings relaxed and interacted in a friendly fashion with their strange visitors. A corn farmer in Iowa claimed to have hosted a community dinner with a Zortixian crew and the Zortixians feasted on roast beef, corn on the cob and apple pie with a strange liquid called corn whisky!  After dinner more corn whiskey flowed and the Zortixians were introduced to square dancing. Actually when this crew returned to Zortixia the captain of the crew published an entire book on this experience with the earthlings.

Zortixian farmers began to plant this strange vegetable corn and their replicated corn whisky became a hot drink amongst Zortixians. But still where was the Montenez family? However somewhat by accident a training mission of Zortixian cadets landed in the dimension of Zlano and encountered the Greek Gods. The cadets leaped in joy after speaking with a strange old man called Zeus who related the story of how they had found and nurtured Willie Montenez Jr. Zeus even told them of where he thought they could find Montenez.

Within minutes telecameras were installed and incredulous Zortixians heard their esteemed telescreen news anchor Walter Stagnite interviewing Zeus.

Zeus was rather taken aback and related the story of Willie Montenez Jr. Zeus said, “I realize Zortixians you are most impatient in your quest for information concerning Montenez so I’ll keep my story short. We found Montenez in an infant state and raised him as one of our own and bestowed immortality to him thank goodness as he would long ago been dead as Zortixia and earth are in two entirely different time warps. We found out his name by translating some strange script that was written on a bracelet attached to his arm. We were a bit shocked seeing the lad as we had not yet decided to create humanity. We raised him as a god giving him the best physical and mental education we could. Although the cannister he was in was severely damaged aside from having a severed toe he was in fine health. He stayed with us on the island of Samos until it fell prey to an overabundance of tourists which threatened our way of life. We did not do such a great job in creating humanity which was in a great turmoil with terrible wars, genocide, starvation, plagues and various types of perversity were ravaging the globe. Willie stayed behind to help these poor earthlings as we fled here to Zlano. You ought to be proud of Willie.”

The Zortixians immediately headed to the Greek island of Samos. Willie, who had not yet departed Samos had no idea how quickly his past was hurtling towards him. He telephone rang. He picked it up,” Hello Montenez here at Apollo Bar. Can I help?” The familiar voice of Dr Zodiac, who was in Samos for a visit from Zlano said, “Willie I have some important information for you so brace yourself. Zeus contacted me and told me creatures from another planet called Zortixia have come looking for you. They should be here shortly.”

Mutantism on The March :Chapter 13 “The Unfortunate Arrival of The Frenchmen”

After one particularly exciting voyage with his Abenaki friends south of Lake Champlain, as it is now criminally named, Squid sat at the top of a mountain happily imbibing the beautiful colours of the fall scenery. Then far down the lake he saw it. It was some primitive sailing vessel slowly making its way to the mainland. The Abenaki were also seeing this strange craft and were making an excited ruckus. After an hour or so smaller craft disgorged from the larger craft and Squid and his Abenaki friends discerned some humanoids heading toward the shore. They were singing, waving crosses and flags gesturing in an agitated manner. Squid yawned in a nonchalant manner and made his way to the outskirts of the village. These strangers had already arrived so Squid hid behind bushes and eavesdropped. The newcomers were acting like boors. They were sneering at his Abenaki friends and insulting them. Their language differed from the Cro-Magnon grunts but their actions towards the Abenaki were similar.

Their leader was strutting about like some rare tropical bird dressed in an absurdly flamboyant costume. The Abenaki were somewhat perplexed over the frills and overpowering smell of cologne. The leader was not in a good mood and in an angry tone said (English translation) “This is not fucking China. We are fucking lost”.

Squid, with his superpowered brain deciphered these conversations that these men were from some country called France. He rather vaguely remembered the name of the country and may have indeed visited it previously.

The leader of this band of dishevelled band of white men was called Jacques Cartaway and although he was lost he decided to take his crew on a survey of the area. There was always the possibility of gold which was far more valuable than the huge schools of cod they had encountered. Squid had an uneasy feeling about these strange white men who called themselves “discoverers” for a land and people that had already been there for centuries. These fools had not discovered anything as the land and people had been here at their home before Cartaway and his discoverers had “discovered” them.

The silly and pompous Frenchman stumbled through the bush regularly giving names to landmarks as if they were absolute owners. The Abenaki tribe had no place in their conquest. At each landmarked place black robed men performed strange ceremonies looking to the sky and seeking the blessing of their gods that they now possessed the land. The Abenaki, not quite understanding these silly ceremonies stood and laughed. The black robes were furious at the hilarity of the Abenaki which was insulting to their Christian mores.

One of the black robes Frere Grandvoluer cast an evil eye on the Abenaki and mumbled, “We will be back my savages. You’ll see the errors of your way and we will return to make you see the evil of your ways and we will see whose turn it is to laugh.”

Rather sensing some hostility the Abenaki conveyed the message of their water god Squid living in he mountains. Cartaway and his men laughed at the savage ignorance of the Abenaki.

These Frenchman ascended the mountain of Squid and claimed it as Mount Royal in honour of their king. Squid watching this anti-social behaviour later referred to as colonialism wanted to shove these intruders off the mountain but winter’s savage onslaught accomplished much of what he had wanted to accomplish. The explorers were trapped with the freezing waters.

Against the advice of Squid the Abenaki told these Frenchman they could boil bark in water and avid scurvy. When spring came Cartaway kidnapped chiefs of the Abenaki like some trophies to be presented at Versailles.

The Abenaki were furious and awaited a chance for revenge against the French savages. Squid was melancholic but that was history and history was vicious. He was well ware that colonization in many forms and could only expect worse events to plague his group of friends. So what could he do against an entire Euro civilization.

He announced before his departure later in the summer at a feast in his honour of the water god (himself) that they do not trust these interlopers. As he transformed into a squid and plunged into the waters of what the Frenchmen called Lake Champlain he headed off with a sigh and muttered  “If only they had invented the machine gun. They would have had a decent chance,”

Black Pig of Alentejo with some Alentejo Wines!

I recall purchasing a Trinco Bolotas red from the Alentejo region in Portugal a couple of years ago in a Porto supermarket on sale for about $6.00 Canadian. I took it home and kept it in the cellar for a few months to calm down its travel shock. And I purchased it here in Toronto recently at the Liquor Control Board of Ontario when I was returning a badly corked bottle of Greek Xinomavro. The Vintages rep was excited about its 97-point rating for the 2018 version in Decanter World Wine Awards. So I relented and picked up a bottle of the 2019 vintage.

I say relented as I was not impressed with whatever vintage I picked up in Porto and that is a hard pill to swallow considering Alicante Bouschet was part of the blend and that grape can work miracles in a blend! Well I suppose we should see if the rubber of the rating hits the reality of the tastebuds.

On the nose some black cherry, blueberry, pomegranate charcoal and cacao.  On the palate junior tannins and well-matched acidity. It is rather a stern wine surprising considering the charm and seductiveness Alicante Bouschet often offers to a Alentejo wine. But in this firmness there is some black cherry, blackberry, coal, and juicy sweet cranberry.

I’ll have to take a break for a few minutes and say if you are a foodie the black pig of Alentejo should be on your bucket list. It is a dark skinned Iberian pig that is fattened on cork seeds and acorns giving it a unique taste or rather an unforgettably delicious taste and paired with a Alentejo wine with Alicante Bouschet mix you may feel what and why wine writers make food and wine pairings. I was introduced to this combo at a fabulous Relais & Châteaux in Guincho Beach called Fortaleza do Guincho which is an old Moorish fort overlooking the Atlantic Ocean with perhaps the most spectacular dining room in Europe with some of the best chefs in Europe. It is a short taxi or bus ride from Cascais It was here that I was introduced to the black pig of Alentejo with a sommelier picked wine from Alentejo with a grape which at that time was unknown to me….Alicante Bouschet. A quick lunch turned into a three hour stay including a tour of a very impressive wine cellar. Quite frankly as food memories go it fell into the “Portugal outdoes itself” and a memory I still hold dear. Thank you, Petra!

“Trinca Bolotas” means acorn eaters.

Now as I rate the wine I try and separate my memories with what is in the glass as cruel as that may be. It is a good wine and totally suited to food and particularly the black pig of Alentejo of which you will have to go to Portugal for. But as a substitute may I suggest a pork tenderloin roast which has been in a Dutch Oven generously bathed in some Late Bottled Vintage Port, scallions, dried Thai chili peppers, capers, Kalamata olives, celery, carrots and onions with finely chopped walnuts. You can thicken the sauce with corn-starch and water if you wish. Serve over basmati rice and blame me for this untried recipe. Better yet head to Fortaleza do Guincho and speak with Petra who can hopefully set you up with some black pig!

In addition to the Alicante Bouschet there is Touriga Nacional and Aragonez (Tempranillo).

(Herdade Peso Trinca Bolotas Tinto 2019, DOC Alentejo, Sogrape, Portugal, $16.95, LCBO # 431064. 750 mL, 14%, Robert K. Stephen A little birdie told me so rating 89/100).

A decent wine but I am no Luca Maroni as far as ratings go.