“Pausing is the gateway to Radical Acceptance. In the midst of a pause, we are giving room and attention to the life that is always streaming through us, the life that is habitually overlooked. It is in this rest under the bodhi tree that we realize the natural freedom of our heart and awareness. Like the Buddha, rather than running away, we need only commit ourselves to arriving, here and now, with wholehearted presence.”
COVID Poetry Corner: “Someone Has to Pay The Price”
Someone Has to Pay The Price
Yet another grim fatality statistic for the United States
with over 500,000 meeting their final fates
how much longer will this vile viral attack continue hammering the world?
when all is over
the blame game will start with a roar
with a particular vengeance for deaths among the poor
politicians and medicos will be booted out the door
and the sensationalist media will act like a boor
and feast on the lies, half truths and political blunders
which have torn the spirit of nations asunder
is it best to take time to heal
or let the guilty squeal?
Before you point the finger at someone else perhaps that is cowardly blame
perhaps by our indifference and failing to speak up at the appropriate time
you and I are the ones that committed the crime
Canadian Government Update on COVID Vaccination of its Indigenous Population
Government of Canada COVID-19 Update for Indigenous Peoples and communities
From: Indigenous Services Canada
News release
February 17, 2021 — Ottawa, Traditional unceded Algonquin Territory, Ontario — Indigenous Services Canada
Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) is closely monitoring the number of COVID-19 cases reported in First Nations communities across the country. Overall, case numbers continue to decline, with 1,383 active cases reported as of February 16, 2021. First Nation communities in the Atlantic region have not reported a new case since January 25.
With new COVID-19 variants on the rise, it is critical that everyone continue with physical distancing, wearing masks, avoiding gatherings and non-essential travel, staying home when sick, and keeping up with frequent hand, cough and surface hygiene. The combination of all these public health measures are required to stop the spread of the virus.
In First Nations communities, as of February 16, ISC is aware of:
- 19,230 confirmed positive COVID-19
- 1,383 active cases
- 17,640 recovered cases
- 207 deaths
There are a total of 47 confirmed positive cases in Nunavik, Quebec, and all but 7 have recovered. As of February 16, the Government of Nunavut is reporting 23 active cases in the Kivalliq Region, and a total of 323 confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic. Of the 323 reported cases, 299 people have recovered from the virus.
As of February 11, 2021, more than 1.4 million Moderna and Pfizer vaccines have been distributed across the country. As of February 16, 2021, more than 83,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in more than 400 First Nations, Inuit and Territorial communities, reaching 27 per cent of the community adult population at a rate that’s over 6 times that of Canada’s. We expect that the number of communities with vaccinations underway will continue to increase in the coming weeks, as vaccine supply ramps up. Some people also report experiencing more side effects after the second dose. Side effects such as pain, redness or swelling where the needle was given, mild fever, tiredness, and muscle or joint aches are to be expected, and often go away on their own without treatment. Though these side effects may be uncomfortable in the short term, they indicate that the body is building immunity. Receiving both doses is critical in ensuring maximum effectiveness of the vaccine.
Canada is expected to receive 6 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines by the end of March. Canada will now receive 2.8 million additional doses of Pfizer-BioNTech between April and June, and an additional 6.2 million doses between July and September than was originally scheduled. The Government of Canada has also purchased an additional 4 million doses of the Moderna vaccine, bringing the total number of secured doses to 44 million. Canada is now expected to receive 84 million doses of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines by the end of September 2021.
A number of federal partners, including the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), ISC and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, continue to work in collaboration with communities, provinces and territories in an effort to assess on-going community needs, and supports. Currently, the CAF is on the ground in several First Nation communities including the Pauingassi First Nation in Manitoba, the Fort Nelson First Nation in British Columbia, the Hatchet Lake First Nation in Saskatchewan and the Muskrat Dam Lake First Nation in Ontario to help communities manage COVID-19 outbreaks and vaccine distribution.
The Government of Canada continues to develop tools to assist health care providers, communities and partners in their efforts to encourage uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine. The Public Health Agency of Canada recently released a new tool kit for health care providers to equip them with information and resources to help their patients and colleagues make informed decisions about COVID-19 vaccination. As well, ISC created public service announcement scripts on the COVID-19 vaccine in 17 different Indigenous languages for communities and groups to use in their outreach and engagement efforts.
The National Advisory Committee on Immunization’s new guidance recommends that all Indigenous adults be prioritized for immunization. As we work to support vaccine administration in Indigenous communities, we are also supporting the vaccine roll out for Indigenous adults living in cities and towns across Canada. To this end, ISC is working closely with provinces and territories, First Nation, Inuit and Métis partners, the National Association of Friendship Centres, and other urban community service organizations to support planning efforts. This includes working to identify barriers, challenges and opportunities for increasing vaccine uptake and ensuring the vaccine is available in culturally safe and accessible locations. Last week, a COVID-19 pop-up vaccination site in Winnipeg focused on immunizing First Nations health-care workers, knowledge keepers and traditional healers. In addition, the Government of Ontario announced, this past weekend, that Indigenous adults have been identified as a priority group for vaccination in Phase One. Some Aboriginal Health Access Centres across Ontario have already started rolling out vaccines, including at the Wabano Centre in Ottawa. The Akausivik Inuit Family Health Team in Ottawa is also starting their vaccination program this week.
ISC continues to support Indigenous communities impacted by COVID-19 through partnerships and other innovative solutions. In some communities, ISC is supporting community leadership on addictions and mental health gaps, in addition to working with federal and provincial partners to identify alternative isolation centres for community members that test positive. ISC also continues to support communities by actively sending personal protective equipment and working with community health services to provide surge capacity and testing.
More than $4.2 billion has been announced in COVID-19 support to Indigenous and northern communities and organizations, including $926.7 million for the ongoing public health response to COVID-19 in Indigenous communities.
Your Sleep and COVID
We continue taking a Quebec view of COVID based on a lengthy article in the monthly Quebec magazine “L’actualité (December edition).
The number of insomniacs has increased in the past few months notes Charles Morin the chair of research of Canada into sleep troubles who is also a professor at the University of Laval in Quebec.
Why? His view is that the amount of stress caused by the pandemic and the work from home that causes a blurring of the boundaries between being awake and being asleep. The time spent inside has resulted in a reduced exposure to sunlight which is important for synchronizing your hours of sleep. There is no need to panic but rather re-establish a sleep routine especially relaxing away from the screen before going to bed.
There are three characteristics of an insomniac being difficulty falling asleep (more than 30 minutes), waking up at night with difficulty falling back to sleep or waking up early around 4 a.m.
Insomnia causes it to be difficult to function during the day, bad mood and troubles with concentration and memory.
Insomniacs are at increased risk of hypertension and depression. Many have an obsession with sleep which prevents proper daily functioning and are apprehensive of the upcoming night.
The most recognized medical community treatment is cognitive therapy which is tried with 60-70% of insomniacs and takes anywhere from 6-8 sessions. Only 40% of those revert to good sleep patterns. One objective of cognitive therapy is to destroy myths such as it is imperative to get 8 hours of sleep. A continual sleep of 6 ½ hours is better than a continually interrupted sleep of 9 hours.
COVID poetry Corner: “Are you reduced to blatant fear mongering?”
Are you reduced to blatant fear mongering?
Yes we are numbed by the politico-medico propaganda campaign
(oops I meant public health service messages)
what’s several millions spent on public relations firms trying to terrorize our brain
but from these boring and incessant messages it is clear they think we have the brain of a toad
and with a television advertisement by the Ontario Government they have resorted to create more fear and goad
A group of people enjoying a gathering not obviously squealed upon by COVID snitches
suddenly a happy guest is wheeled down a hospital corridor with an oxygen mask on their face
with the weighty message is this is where a little social gathering will get you in these days of lockdown
remember this has been cleverly devised
by teams of skilled advertising executives trying to make a buck
and for us they couldn’t give a
More used to selling laundry detergent, cars and toothpaste
now gathered to manufacture fear as a commodity
in this pandemic a disgusting and demeaning oddity
Robert K. Stephen
COVID Poetry Corner: “Just Another Two Weeks”
Just Another Two Weeks
Yes our lockdown in Toronto has been extended for another two weeks
the battered spouse and the cancer patient awaiting surgery weeps
our Toronto mayor says just be patient until the lockdown expires on March 8th
same old message on my mind is beginning to grate
The politico-medicos have us imprisoned behind fear and frightening stats mates
having lost control of our collective fates
Robert K. Stephen
“Mutantism on the March”: Chapter 6 “Tourism Edging out the Greek Gods!”
Chapter 6 “Tourism Edging out the Greek Gods!”
The Island of The Greek Gods was the island of Samos in, of course, Greece and was in the Eastern Aegean some 20 kilometres from the Turkish Coast. Aside from some pirate attacks it had largely been a peaceful island and its inhabitants carried on with life as they had done for centuries. The Greek Gods had an enormous track of land up in the pine forested hills disguising themselves, when necessary, as monks of a strange and obscure order. And the locals left them alone to continue making their brandy.
This serene scenario dissolved beginning in the 1960’s with hordes of Athenian tourists discovering the ancient ruins of Samos and its many pristine beaches, Samos offered cheap wine and sun for the increasingly large influx of Northern European tourist particularly the Dutch and the Germans. As the tourist industry began to flourish so did inequalities of wealth for those who had invested in the tourist business and those that failed to do so. It was common for some of the more aggressive developers to buy land from local farmers near beaches and then in a few months develop the land into a tourist resort or sell the land at a handsome price. Even simple items that had been in family’s kitchens and living rooms such as icons and copper pots were purchased by savvy merchants who resold them as antiques in Western Europe and North America. This tourist culture was poisoning both the people and the land transforming this once placid agricultural community into a Tivoli.
The Gods were not impressed with this New Civilization and its increasingly profit motive hectic pace. Their quiet island was becoming a boomtown. Not even the constant threat of Turkish invasion could scare the tourists away. Drunken tourists stumbled about at all hours of the night and early morning. The locals endured it with a forced smile as many of them were dependent on the tourist trade for a living. Public criticisms of the naughty tourists were rare as polite behaviour ensured a flow of money.
The Gods were being literally pushed out of their land. At first they thought of fighting back and opening up their own businesses. Aphrodite ran a beauty salon; Zeus purchased a hotel and Dionysus a liquor store. The once great rulers of civilization were demoted to the degrading ranks of petite bourgeoisie. The Gods could not compete with the large multinationals who had pushed into the island. Dionysus suffered a nervous breakdown when his liquor business slipped into bankruptcy as mega discount supermarket chains from France and Germany with stores on the island undercut his prices. Well at least for a time he had his own vineyard near the monastery but unfortunately a group of conventioneers from the Whinekol Chemical Company GMBH had trampled down all the vines during one of their alcohol-soaked picnics. For Dionysus wine was a way of life and increasing beer consumption was putting an end to that way of life.
If matters were not progressing well for Dionysus they were also deteriorating for Aphrodite whose beauty salon had initially done well with her quaint if not ancient hair styling receiving much praise for their creativity but as the new Samos airport had opened it was attracting a lower class tourist with package deals. Fat German patrons insulted her and her staff for their antiquated cuts and styling. Tips dried up along with dwindling business.
Herme’s bar and disco once the only game in town was now being shunned by tourists in favour of the new Refines Disco furnished with all the latest furniture from Paris and an extremely expensive German sound system.
Business failures amongst the Gods had increased. Dinner time had always been the time for insightful philosophical discussion in a peaceful and respectful fashion. That had been replaced by increasing alcohol consumption, arguments and even food fights. It reached a point that Zeus feared violence. One evening he called an assembly to discuss the nature of their situation including whether to remain on the island or move to a new more tranquil location. Some of the Gods attended the meeting with their suitcases packed. After reaching the podium Zeus spoke, “Good evening one and all. We are assembled to discuss an important and pressing matter. Should we remain in Samos and bear the pressures of the New Civilization or shall we remove ourselves to a quieter and more dignified location? The New Civilization seems to have frustrated our ability to control world civilization. This tourist influx has shattered our last refuge. The situation can only worsen. Every summer the crowds increase and the rudeness and uncivility as well. I heard yesterday from a contact at the Greek Ministry of Tourism a promotional campaign will be launched in the United States of America that will highlight the island. This island will soon become a living hell and I can no longer tolerate these rude tourists and greedy grasping local businessmen. By the looks on your faces I think you agree with me. And we thought we had helped eradicate barbarity amongst the mortals!
In the beginning it was fun as we catered to an educated and respectful group of tourists. However the construction of the new airport has brought in lower class lager louts disrupting the peaceful life of the people unleashing a never-ending stream of greed. Imagine, even us Gods, struggling to make it financially with failing businesses. I am impatient acting as a hotel manager slavishly grovelling at the feet of these tourists and having my staff clean up their nightly vomit stinking of cheap Retsina. These mortals should be grovelling at OUR feet! Who in Hades do they think they are. I propose a vote on whether we leave and if in favour of the move I have a location in mind.”
As fate would have it Attis excitedly stormed into the room shouting we are done! A vote became not if but where do the Gods go.
“Mutantism on The March”: Chapter 5: “And The Greek Gods Get Involved”
Dr. Zodiac, physician to the Greek Gods, and his good friend, Zeus, were treading on the beach of their island home Samos, as it is known in modern day Greece. They were deeply absorbed in discussing the nature of the universe and failed to notice the elongated battered metal object on the beach until after they had very nearly tripped over it. Both looked at each other with astonishment. In this strange object was a babe. Zeus stuttered, “This is some sort of miracle. We have not yet finished our plans to create mankind yet in front of us we see a baby. How has this incredible event happened. Even I as leader of the Gods and an all powerful do not know how this child has landed in our midst. Is there a message to us in this? Are more powerful gods testing our compassion? Is it a message from some other planet? Is it a blessing or a curse?”
Zodiac was too perplexed to respond immediately but after a couple of minutes of reflection spoke, “Perhaps Zeus some of your ideas may be correct and deserve closer study. Perhaps it is some sort of omen but for now let us cease this speculation. The babe is bleeding from the toe and I must see the wounds are attended to. Let us take him to our retreat.”
And so Willie Jr. was taken to the domicile of the Greek Gods and his arrival sparked great interest. After a brief discussion the Gods decided to adopt him as one of their own. They bestowed immortality upon him and were resolved to impart their godly wisdom to him to ensure a regal upbringing. After consulting with some of the more scholarly gods Zeus managed to decipher the strange language on the babe’s bracelet….”Willie Montenez Jr”.
Willie was raised without any knowledge of his past because what that was were a set of facts totally unknown to the Greek Gods. Like any youth he frolicked his days away on the beach but not all was play as he received daily instruction from the Gods on philosophy and morals. Hundreds of earth years passed and Willie grew to adulthood. These were spectacular years that witnessed the creation of man and animals. Willie was a popular figure amongst the Greek Gods. His wit, intelligence and honesty charmed them all and they were proud he had evolved into such a fine lad. The Gods were particularly impressed with his insatiable desire to discover the truth on all matters he considered.
Willie had been too young to participate in the adventures at Troy but had participated in the French Revolution and the 1906 Serbian Croatian Pig War and with charming ease he had reconciled angry pig farmers and politicians. Even to this date you can see faded pictures of Willie shaking hands with the Ministers of Agriculture of Serbia and Croatia. Of course, Willie had not told them of his origin as he knew not what it was nor did he admit he was a consort to the Greek Gods. He was simply known as Josif Montenegro.
After so many epic adventures in the hands of earthlings the Greek Gods would assemble and discuss the direction of world history and where it should be flowing. However as time passed it was increasingly obvious that the course of history was spinning out of their control and even beyond the power of the Gods. Nuclear bombs and chemical and biological warfare were hideous to them but for the moment they refused to capitulate. Computers were baffling to them and they had difficulty, even as great scholars, to understand the writings of Fanon, Marx, Hitler and Lenin. This new civilization was baffling and was overtaking them. The once mighty masters of humankind were now becoming obsolete. Shortly a series of uncontrollable events would drive them off the planet they had strived to rule justly.
Pinot Noir Battle: Canada vs. New Zealand
In this corner at 14% we have a contender from New Zealand from a veteran winery called Thornbury from the Central Otago region in New Zealand’s South Island. Wine fans you may know that New Zealand can be a top-quality producer of not only Sauvignon Blanc and now increasingly Pinot Noir.
The nose suggests a broody Pinot Noir one would wish to avoid in a dark alleyway. Deep raspberry and red cherry are tightly wound on the nose. On the palate smooth with almost clinging raspberry notes tinged with loganberry and a hint of mocha. Short finish. A decent Pinot Noir but not definitely heavyweight champion material.
(Thornbury 2019 Central Otago Pinot Noir, Thornbury Wines, Mangere, New Zealand, $29.90, Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 926245, 14%, 750 mL, Robert K. Stephen a little birdie told me Rating 91/100).
Alright a Canadian Pinot Noir steps into the ring. It is a Henry of Pelham 2019 Pinot Noir. On the nose sweet red cherries and freshly picked raspberries. On the palate there are some light tannins. On the palate overlaying the red cherry would be a gentle net of smoke. A very gentle cut of acid. A good but simple Pinot Noir. Quick finish. As for food a mushroom Stroganoff will win the day. Here’s the recipe https://www.ocregister.com/2020/02/22/recipe-mushroom-stroganoff-delivers-flavor-without-the-meat/amp/
(Henry of Pelham Estate Pinot Noir 2019, VQA Short Hills Bench, Henry of Pelham Family Estates Winery, St. Catharines, Ontario, $ 24.95, Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 268391, 750 mL, 13%, Robert K. Stephen a little birdie told me Rating 91/100).
Might improve with some ageing but consume by end of 2025.
So the judges have made their decision and it is a draw.
Poetry Corner: “Perpetual Lockdown”
Perpetual Lockdown
Yes today another extension of lockdown for 4 public health regions in Ontario
including Toronto
of course with deference to the whomever they may be Ontario Public Health Table
an imprisoning health fable
for politicians running under the public accountability gable
you have put us under a for the good of the public fable
ruinous public health advice
to the doctors ruining our economy
many thanks for your concern
in the hell fires of mental illness, cancelled cancer surgeries we burn
of course you leaders of public health get the jab
but on the sidelines my friends about you we blab
do you have any connection with reality
other than numbers and charts
treating us like febrile tarts
A Bird's Eye View of Fashion, Food, Travel, Culture, Beverage and Curiosity 