Viral Blame Game

According to the South China Morning Post, November 17, 2019 marks the first documented case of COVID-19 in China. Impossible to say if this individual was patient zero. If we’re to believe official statements by China, infections grew to 60 by December 20, 2019. On December 27th, Dr. Zhang Jixian, head of the respiratory department at Hubei Provincial Hospital in Wuhan, confirmed the disease was caused by a novel coronavirus. On that day, official case count stood at 160. Viral videos of Wuhan’s “wet market”, clips of fine dining delicacies like whole bats or live baby mice in broth, cemented China’s official party line – COVID can be traced to Wuhan’s wet market. China closed the market in January 2020, sanitizing it without taking samples. In May 2020, China admitted it wasn’t the market, offering no idea where it came from.

In late 2017, science and health officials from the U.S. Embassy attended a conference in Beijing. They witnessed a presentation by Chinese scientists working out of a top level bio-safety lab in Wuhan. Research indicating bat caves in Yunnan Province were probable source of the SARS outbreak and identification of three new coronavirus characterized by a “spike protein” conducive to “grabbing” on to human lung cells known as ACE2 receptors. According to Politico (article linked below) officials at the U.S. Embassy sent teams to inspect the lab on three occasions in late 2017, early 2018. The article alleges – “When they sat down with the scientists at the WIV, the American diplomats were shocked by what they heard. The Chinese researchers told them they didn’t have enough properly trained technicians to safely operate their BSL-4 lab. The Wuhan scientists were asking for more support to get the lab up to top standards.” Shocked enough to alert Washington, warn of potential implications and call for immediate assistance to meet safety standards. Pleas lost in a quagmire of political posturing. A warning no one listened to?

Not so fast. Since when does China allow top level bio-security scientists to speak off the record to U.S. diplomats? Admit they’re incapable of managing containment and security?

Much as I’m leaning toward credibility of a lab breach and cover-up, I struggle with accuracy of Politico’s account. Read the article and let me know what you think.

In 2018, Diplomats Warned of Risky Coronavirus Experiments in a Wuhan Lab. No One Listened. – POLITICO

A view of the P4 lab inside the Wuhan Institute of Virology. | AP Photo/Ng Han Guan

Full Moon Sleep

New research published in the journal Science Advances supports a correlation between moon cycles and sleep. Seems we go to bed later, sleep less when the moon is full. Scientists analyzed sleep patterns of two control groups, one in rural Argentina without artificial light pollution, the other college students living in downtown Seattle. Research concluded full moons disrupt sleep patterns even in urban locations with artificial light pollution. Participants wore wristbands to monitor activity, both groups went to bed later, slept less during the week leading up to a full moon. Research confirmed humanity’s inherent link to evolutionary circadian rhythms.

Circadian rhythm regulates wake/sleep hours, repeating once every 24 hours in step with rotation of Earth. Circadian (from Latin “circa” meaning around or approximately and “diem”, meaning day ) rhythm is hard wired into every form of life. It dictates when bees feed, bats fly and we sleep. Circadian rhythm is sensitive to light fluctuation – enter full moon sleep deprivation.

People sleep less before a full moon | Human World | EarthSky

Sun Bum

“Wellness” trends never fail to amuse. Make no mistake, fortunes are made by snake oil charlatans hawking new age wellness to scores of impressionable simpletons. Seems all you have to do is preface wellness with “health” to curiously validate preposterous claims. From goopy Gwyneth Paltrow convincing women to steam their vaginas like asparagus or believing vaginas make great cartons for pricey jade eggs, to crackpot cleanses, enemas and colonics marketed for weight loss/detoxification, there’s a fool born every minute.

“Add to cart” isn’t the only tool in the health & wellness box, “self-care” trends monetize content courtesy views, likes and shares. Nothing like a viral Tweet, Instagram, Facebook or blog post to cement trend status. It’s a billion dollar behemoth littered with fraudulent claims, dangerous misinformation, misleading propaganda and bloated superiority.

Ponder perineum sunning, aka butthole sunning – “In a mere 30 seconds of sunlight on your butthole, you will receive more energy from this electric node than you would in an entire day being outside with your clothes on” accompanied a Instagram video featuring this image last October –

Then this –

According to metaphysical Meagan “My experience with perineum sunning has been profound,” she claims. “I have been practicing this for a few months now. I start my day with 5 minutes of perineum sunning & feel energized for hours. I no longer rely on coffee for energy to start my day because I am getting my energy from the sun. I also am experiencing better sleep and require less sleep due to boost of overall energy.”

Perineum defines thin, delicate skin between your genitals and anus, without question an area where the sun shouldn’t shine. Physicians and dermatologists overwhelmingly caution against exposing perineum to sunlight. Sunning your butt won’t regulate circadian rhythm, regulate hormones, increase personal magnetism, improve focus and mental stimulation or help libido and sexual energy.

Health and wellness is a quagmire of misinformation. Self improvement requires honest reflection, not cockamamie testimonials guaranteeing eternal bliss courtesy sun on your bum. Smarten up people!

What is Perineum Sunning? Doctors Warn Against Butthole Sunning | Health.com

Trump Vaccine

Geraldo Rivera wants to heal a nation divided by naming the first COVID vaccine “the Trump”. Earlier this week Rivera Tweeted – “If you are really interested in conciliation, and sincerely want everyone to work together to make the next administration a success, why not start with this suggestion: call the first vaccine to market the Trump. #TrumpVaccine ”

What the freaking hell? This morning Rivera pitched the Trump on Fox & Friends, saying – “It would be a nice gesture to him, and years from now it would become kind of a generic name. Have you got your Trump yet? I got my Trump, I’m fine. I wish we could honor him in that way”.

Since president elect Joe Biden defeated Trump, coronavirus has claimed 24,000 lives. Over a quarter million have died since Trump flippantly dismissed it as nothing to worry about earlier this year. Every two seconds another U.S. citizen is infected. National new infections per day are pushing 200,000. Trump refuses to concede, denies Biden’s transition team access to vital resources required to implement a national pandemic action plan and announces New York State will get the vaccine last because he didn’t like criticism from Governor Andrew Cuomo. What the freaking hell?

Rivera praised Trump as “prime architect” of Operation Warp Speed, a government funded vaccine development program. Chirping – “But for him we would still be waiting into the grim winter for these amazing miraculous medical breakthroughs”. But for him? Cool your jets Geraldo, the only involvement Pfizer had with Operation Warp Speed was as a supplier. The Trump administration contracted 100 million doses, but no government funding for development. https://www.newsweek.com/pfizer-part-operation-warp-speed-alex-azar-distanced-trump-program-1546594

The staggering absurdity of Rivera’s initiative defies reason. What the freaking hell? It would be a nice gesture if U.S. citizens honored Trump by calling COVID vaccine “the Trump”? Enough! I can’t laugh, cry, shake my head or call upon irony to make it better. Get a grip America, you have mud on your face.

We’re Not Going To Control The Pandemic

On Sunday October 25, Trump Chief of Staff Mark Meadows told CNN – “We’re not going to control the pandemic”. “We are going to control the fact that we get vaccines, therapeutics and other mitigations”. Asked why the U.S. can’t make an effort to control the virus, Meadows answered “because it is a contagious virus just like the flu”. Adding, “What we need to do is make sure that we have proper mitigation factors, whether it’s therapies or vaccines or treatments to make sure that people don’t die from this”.

Meadows comments coincide with several consecutive days of highest new daily infections since 77,300 in mid July – 83,757 on Friday October 23rd, 83,718 on Saturday October 24th. Since the start of the pandemic close to a quarter million Americans have died, research estimates the number will rise to 500,000 by February 2021. Medical experts insist 130,000 of those lives would be spared if mask wearing protocols were law. But hey, why start now? Let “sleepy Joe” whine about masks, the simpering fool. Trump stands for freedom to spread COVID as you damn well please. MAGA patriots unite! Trump has a plan to “mitigate” coronavirus with mythical cures, not one near promising effectiveness, let alone available to the masses.

I call British Columbia, Canada home. Under 300 people have died in B.C. (population roughly 6 million) since the start of the pandemic. In mid March health officials ordered all bars and restaurants closed, banned all events and gatherings, closed schools, beaches, parks, community centres and libraries. Everyone stayed home, government guaranteed $2,000 a month to all citizens, gradually we flattened the curve. Enough so that by end of May restaurants could open at 50% capacity provided safe distance guidelines were followed between guest tables and all staff wore face masks. A few weeks later new daily infections were so low government allowed 50 people to gather outdoors for weddings and special occasions.

Alas, fair weather and human nature got the better of us, infection rates took an upward spike. Government response – immediate ban on all liquor sales past 10 pm, ban on music played above conversation level in restaurants (loud music promotes leaning in to be heard ), closure of all banquet halls. Masks became mandatory on public transportation. Heavy fines for hosts or organizers of parties/events in violation of safe distancing/maximum capacity rules.

Despite best efforts cooler autumn air facilitates the march of a second wave. Today, Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s chief medical officer mandated a maximum of six people in the same “bubble” allowed to be in a private residence. Depending on official new infection stats following the Halloween weekend, I fully expect further restrictions by next week.

Are citizens upset, frothing rabid condemnation over government restrictions? No, we’re not. Wearing a mask is the least we can do to control COVID, but for collective observance of common good, we’d face staggering mortality rates akin to the United States. Freedom demands more than selfish “you can’t tell me what to do” blithering. Freedom comes with imperative to take responsibility for the welfare of our neighbors. Canadians understand the importance of controlling coronavirus, reason why Canada has less than 10,000 deaths.

Trump and his merry band of goonies are diabolical puppeteers. Propagandists extraordinaire. Brazen self serving opportunists who delight in selling snake oil to catatonic followers. “We’re not going to control the pandemic, we’ll mitigate it with vaccine”. Yeah right.

Global Air Quality Index – Vancouver B.C. Worst In the World

A closed Canada/U.S. border is no match for invasive plumes of wildfire smoke blanketing the West Coast. For days, stinging brown haze has beset Vancouver, obliterating sunlight, vying with Seattle and Portland for worst air quality in the world. This morning Vancouverites woke to a staggering reality – official ranking as most hazardous air to breathe in the world. Link to worldwide air quality – https://aqicn.org/here/

Air advisory remains in effect for B.C. due to dense smoke from U.S. wildfires

I’m not crying in my maple syrup or diminishing the plight of countless thousand American lives impacted by the inferno. What I am is alarmed by unprecedented voracity of this disaster. Wildfire season is a fact of life, periodic stretches of regional forest fire smoke settle over Vancouver every few years. What I can’t recall is Vancouver ever having the worst air quality in the world. Nor air so hazardous Canada Post suspends mail delivery, If this is the face of climate disruption, we need to take notice.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-worst-air-quality-world-september-14-2020

No Loud Music

A comment from Peter at https://ppazucha.wordpress.com/ dropped my jaw. He lives in Wisconsin, read an article by a local food critic attributing one third of all COVID outbreaks to restaurants. He thought of me, knowing hospitality pays my bills in Vancouver B.C. Peter kindly reached out with heart warming concern. I doubt he knew that 1/3 of outbreaks linked to restaurants would blow my mind.

No wonder the U.S./Canada border remains closed. In all of Canada 9,170 COVID deaths are attributed to 136,141 confirmed infections. British Columbia has 6,162 infections, 211 deaths. Across the border in Washington State 82,645 cases account for 2.080 deaths. ( All figures accurate today )

Offhand I can’t think of a single outbreak linked to Canadian restaurants. Almost all outbreaks in Canada were traced to senior care facilities or food processing plants. Certainly not food service, emphatically not restaurants. If a third of U.S. infections stem from restaurant visits, what does that say about America’s mindset?

In British Columbia bars and restaurants were closed from late March to end of May. Re-opening guidelines were strict – 50% capacity, 6 metres between tables, maximum 6 guests per table, mandatory masks for staff, mandatory contact tracing info collected from all patrons. To create higher capacity, restaurants are allowed to block off street parking, fence in additional outdoor seating. Meticulous regard for legislation, the only thing standing between economic survival and bankruptcy. Trust me, local businesses know what’s at stake. By no stretch of imagination are restaurants in Canada contributing to COVID infection.

All good until daily infection rates started to climb. (From single digits to 100 or so a day) Despite no correlation between restaurants and rising daily infections, restaurants, bars and banquet halls took it on the chin. This week nightclubs and banquet halls were ordered to close effective immediately. Liquor sales must cease at 10 pm, alcohol can only be served with food, all bars and restaurants have to close by 11 pm. In addition, music can’t be louder than “conversation level” – loud music forces people closer to talk, facilitates shouting which spreads respiratory droplets.

Silly as it sounds, absurd or ridiculous as it seems, Canadians will abide by the rules. In my mind that explains the staggering anomaly between U.S./Canada pandemic statistics.

Glory Holes

Oh Canada. I thought a closed U.S./Canada border and polite socially distanced mask respect for fellow citizens accounted for low COVID infection rates in Canada. Say what you will about Canada, but above all – we don’t shy away from open discussion of safe sex practices during pandemic times. Such is our nature, no stone left unturned. Seems we’re acutely aware of safe sex practices.

Ponder content of a recent brochure issued by the CDC in British Columbia. Fear not Canada, lest there be any doubt, government doesn’t shy away from straight answers. It recognizes our sexual nature with gloriously detailed recommendations.

In a perfect world government would have persons inclined to engage in sexual activity with another outside their immediate bubble – take matters in their own hands. It suggests masturbating in the same room as your partner, or engaging in virtual sex. Barring that, wear a mask, avoid kissing, choose a position conducive to least amount of face to face contact. Ever a wealth of practical solutions, government boldly advocated for physical barriers, specifically “glory holes”.

http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/prevention-risks/covid-19-and-sex

A “glory hole” is a hole made in a wall or other type of partition where a man can insert his penis and receive sexual stimulation. They are usually used so the sex partners can’t see each other and are anonymous.

https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/glory-holes-coronavirus-sex-covid-19_ca_5f18bed5c5b6f2f6c9f10049

This satirical sign appeared on Vancouver’s Commercial Drive. –

This Canadian appreciates the effort, recognizes creative impetus pegging the heartbeat of my home and native land. Lighten up people! It’s a public service announcement, not a manifesto promoting glory hole annihilation of western civilization.

Conservative American heads imploded when glory hole advice made headlines. One right wing site I refuse to dignify with a link said – “Soon enough the Canadian government will be putting out manuals on how to do anal sex. Soon enough the Canadian government will be putting out manuals on how to fist-fuck your own asshole while gay niggers rape a goat in front of you. Soon enough the Canadian government will legalize child rape so that Justin Trudeau and his tranny wife can abuse their own children. This is what Canada has become: an absolute cesspit of evil and cultural decay. The Canadian government is swimming with perverts, pedophiles and zoophiles.”

Hey America, don’t be mad. At least Canada isn’t afraid to speak frankly. Nor do we pretend sexual encounters are exclusive to same sex partners. I’ll take realistic practicality over preposterous family values ignorance any day.

Dogs Trained To Sniff Out Coronavirus

Lead researcher Dominique Grandjean at France’s National Veterinary School of Alfort is training dogs to sniff out COVID-19. Since March eager canine noses have been exposed to sweat samples from people infected with coronavirus. Accurate detection requires 6-8 weeks training for dogs already primed to detect other triggers, 3-6 months training for rookie canines. Once dialed in, dogs exposed to a line of sweat samples can identify COVID with close to 100% accuracy. Notably identifying asymptomatic persons with remarkable acuity.

These dogs are trained to sniff out the coronavirus

On average, dogs have about 220 million scent receptors. Image via Shutterstock/

Today, COVID sniffer dogs are being trained in the UAE, Chile, Argentina, Brazil and Belgium. In the UAE (United Arab Emirates) COVID-19 detector dogs now patrol airports. The ability to identify asymptomatic infection is huge, perhaps the difference between boarding a plane safely, or sitting next to someone unaware they’re carrying the virus.

15% Pledge

Aurora James, founder of “sustainable retail” store Brother Vellies in Brooklyn, New York launched the Fifteen Percent Pledge on May 31, 2020. A “You asked how you can help. This is your opportunity.” social media campaign aimed at large market share retailers in America. The likes of Whole Foods, Home Depot, Target, Saks Fifth Avenue, Barnes and Noble. In total, calling on ten mega retailers to rethink business strategies and marketing to include 15% of shelf space allotted to black owned enterprises. Why 15%? Approximately 15% of U.S. citizens are black. All ten declined,  preferring to focus on their own “racial diversity measures.”

https://www.15percentpledge.org/pledge

Fifteen percent pledge momentum blossomed without help from corporate behemoths. In June Sephora stood in line, followed by Vogue magazine and countless online fashion, health and wellness retailers. Make no mistake, fifteen percent is building steam. Fair enough, but am I the only one who sees misplaced red flags?

Fact – racism is rampant, black Americans are twice as likely to contract coronavirus than their white neighbors, 40% of businesses closed due to COVID-19 were owned by black Americans, compared to 32% Latino and 16% white businesses. Awareness, dialogue, equality are fine and dandy, but it’s a slippery slope when these initiatives serve as feel good substitutes for fundamental change.

The fifteen percent pledge is a band aid. White participants mean well, they’re pleased with themselves, subscribe to social media trends of the moment. Fifteen percent pledges are a marketing banner. Sales spike with every law enforcement murder of a black citizen, fall when protest subsides. Sure, a handful of black entrepreneurs might benefit in the short term, but how does that combat racism?

Blacks don’t want fifteen percent pledges, they want equal rights. They want equal opportunity based on merit, not skin tone. Those with red hair, freckled white skin and green eyes are no different from persons with tightly curled locks and dark pigmentation. Latino or South Asian citizens aren’t privy to fifteen percent pledge initiatives, so why blacks? Why not aboriginal citizens or non-Christian immigrants? Sigh.