Opening Statement



Friday 4 March 2022

TFS News y Views -The Twitter Edition


Goodbye Teacher Free Speech News y Views blogs! Welcome to TFS News y Views -The Twitter Edition instead! You can follow me: 

@davidchiarelli

I'm a retired teacher and an avid political activist. I like to share the latest links with you, dear reader, so that you can more easily consider and analyse them too. 

If you've followed my blogsite at all over the past 11 years, you know that I'm a total news junkie. I live y breathe the news. 

My quarterly news y views blog is gone now, but in it's wake, please give my Twitter Edition of TFS News y Views a gander too. 

It's very important to understand what's going on in the world around us. The many changes happening daily are part and parcel of our life and times. We need to be aware of them and try to plan accordingly. But don't worry! I'll include lots of cool music, arts y lifestyle links to make for a more happy and fun read too!

Recently, my Twitter links have focused on the worldwide Covid pandemic, the "FreeDumb" insurrection in Canada and Russia's invasion of the Ukraine. This spring I'll also be closely following the Ontario provincial election. Then there's the US midterms in the fall! All this and lots more to come!


My focus, as always, is on home, country and the world at large. More or less Toronto, Ontario, Canada and the international scene, but not necessarily, in that order.

Both my blogsite and Twitter feed remain non-monetized. I have a progressive, and inclusive, counter culture point of view. I don't represent, nor am I beholden to anybody else, unlike most news services.

Social media is often the best place for news in our post truth world. It's live, immediate, and unfiltered. It comes from a wealth of incredibly wide and diversified sources all around the world. 

Granted, one still needs to read widely. Think critically. Be media literate. Sadly, the mainstream print, radio and TV news media aren't up to the job anymore. Often they're just biased, mediocre, and misleading at best. 

Over the last two years, my Teacher Free Speech News and Views blogs quickly became outdated. The news focus now changes almost every day. More and more of the links are behind pay walls. Plus they're often quickly removed [or "scrubbed"] by the powers that be. 

With TFS News y Views -The Twitter Edition, we cast a wider net. Hopefully, it'll be easier keeping up to date, while being much more in-depth and comprehensive too.

Please stay tuned!

David C

SOME IMPORTANT LINKS:

My BlogSite Archives: Here's a backgrounder on myself, my blogs and the various news stories I've covered. They include the rise and fall of the Ontario teacher movement, the McGuinty-Wynne Liberal government, the Ford Neo-Consters. There are Obama and Trump south of our border. Plus a third and developing world focus on Cuba, the Caribbean and Latin/ South America. Lots more too @ HERE!

Readers Guide To Teacher Free Speech News y Views: Here's a lot more info on my news approach in general @ HERE!

Future Directions In Blogging: More on where I'm going with these blog site changes and why HERE!

Oh Cannabis News y Views: Yup, there's a Twitter edition too. Sure, not everybody tokes, but it's legal in Canada now, and I do. Whether you toke or not, there are many fascinating similarities with TFS News y Views when it comes to the deceptive corporate, political and social shenanigans at play in our world today! Check it out THERE!

                                   COMMENTS:

Tuesday 25 January 2022

Toronto Covid Diary: Omicron Daze!

A sip of coffee. A puff of smoke. I awake and bake. Gaze at the blizzard swirling outside my window to the world as it snarls traffic, burying the streets below beneath a blanket of snow. Truly, it's the dead of winter, in more ways than one. 

Janet and I are stuck indoors at home in Toronto again. The fifth wave struck fast and hard, just when it seemed like the pandemic was finally over. It'll soon be two years since Covid put our retirement travel plans on hold. We're still here, as the Omicron variant now wrecks further chaos upon our once fine city.

How fucking frustrating! Every time things improve, we get hopeful. Then the province eases restrictions, takes it's foot off the break, throwing caution to the wind. Everyone goes back to school and work, plunging us into the thick of it again.

With the arrival of the Omicron variant, the Ford government has completely sacrificed province wide testing, tracing, and an accurate daily case count to the corporate god$ of busine$$ and indu$try. Little i$ being $aid or done about it; a $tupefying Canadian media fail. The end re$ult? 

Just read between the lines: We're kept in the dark as the pandemic spirals out of control like never before. Clearly, our lives are now expendable. Amongst the disinformation and mass stupidity, few seem to realize what's really going on or even care anymore. 

It wears you out! It's totally insane! Even our own family and friends aren't immune to the sheer folly. It wasn't being "paranoid" to following the Covid restrictions at Christmas. We dodged a huge super spreader event. But lots of them got sick as the virus spread like crazy!

Our self isolation has become an old friend. It doesn't bother me much anymore. During the summer we relax outdoors enjoying a safe respite at the lake. Then come fall we retreat back indoors to our city condo. Rather all or nothing, but it's a comforting routine.

Fortunately we renovated our place before the pandemic. I quite enjoy being here with my books, music, and computer to entertain myself. Janet's got her cellphone TV and games. We don't go far on date nights. Mostly, we just cuddle a lot, talking and relaxing together on the couch. Then once a week make a supply run like Rick and Michonne, dodging all the walking deadheads at the store. Too bad it's not as much fun as on TV!

Bottom line? The Omicron variant is scary as shit. We just try to go with the flow, biding our time, keeping it all in perspective. It isn't easy. It takes lots of love and patience just to get by. After all is said and done, it's just the two of us together alone. It's difficult sometimes, but in my heart of hearts, I love her even more for just being here with me.

However, the madness outside our own little world continues unabated.

The Ford government has asked retired teachers like myself to fill in for the recent crush of ... ahem ... "absent" classroom teachers. I taught almost thirty years. The extra pocket money might be nice. But my answer is a resounding "no"! Here's why:

Would you go into a crowded classroom? Where someone has signed out sick? Then sit at their desk? During a pandemic? For more money?

Proper ventilation, sanitation and hygiene in our schools were huge, ongoing problems throughout my teaching career. They can't possibly be now fixed overnight. The teacher and student vaccines are too late; they are voluntary anyway, and take three weeks to kick in. Add the lack of proper masking, testing, tracing and reporting. The list of horrors goes on and on and on. 

The health risk, especially in my senior years, is far too great. Moreover, I'm not going to enable Ford and Lecce's criminal negligence in sending everyone back into our unsafe schools during a surge. Not when even the unions are doing next to nothing to really protect the teachers and students. It's complete bullshit. 

No? Just watch the virus spread in the daze ahead, at school, home and work! 

Bet it'll be a total shit storm! We can't even get accurate case counts to plan accordingly, so that we can keep our family and loved one's safe! 

Premier Doug Fraud's so called Science Table has proven to be of very little help whatsoever. However, there are numerous, reliable medical science experts still privately tracking the province's hospitalization, ICU and retransmission rates. They can provide very detailed analysis along with useful tips on how to get by. Unlike the Science Table, they are usually proven right too.

I'm still retweeting their links on Twitter for you to check out, if you haven't already. My favourites are Ryan Imgrund, Bill Comeau, and Dr. Jennifer Kwan. You'll find each @ Ryan @ Bill @  Jennifer

My full guide to Teacher Free Speech News and Views -The Twitter edition is coming, but in the meantime, you can still follow me for more updates @davidchiarelli

So, here I am, staying at home, spinning records and getting stoned on reefer. I've got some tasty leftover Racing Fuel, Bruce Banner, and Girl Scout Cookie buds from last summer. Plus I scored some trez kool Tremblant black hashish from my local dispensary. I'll toke a tiny jeeb. It's real exquisite and laid back! 

Yummy yum yum!

Come evening, Janet and I will curl up on the couch with a pot of CBD tea. For a clean, smokeless high, I also enjoy a drop or two or three of CBD and/or THC oil. Helps get me going in the morning. So too, during the harsh Toronto Covid nights! 

Cannabis is very calming. It's legal now. It can provide a creative spark when the going gets tough. Plus it's way healthier than booze. Take too much and the worst that will happen is you'll get a good nights sleep. I highly recommend it!

However you decide to get by, please stay safe and remember to look out for each other!

See you on Twitter!

David C

COMMENTS:

Sunday 2 January 2022

Oh Cannabis -The Twitter Edition!


Hi Stoners!

For over 5 years, Oh Cannabis Newz and Viewz has provided a grassroots perspective of the legalization movement from here in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It's one of those very rare stories that actually ends well. We won the fight! A lot of fine tuning is still needed. However, legalization has taken root on the home front. It's now spreading and growing around the world. 

So much so, that I can't keep up with all the news links any longer. It's time to change how I cover the scene. I still plan to write about the high life. I just won't be posting the latest links in a news compendium here on my blog site anymore. They're on Oh Cannabis -The Twitter Edition! instead:

@davidchiarelli

You'll find lots of links to our weed lifestyle, music and art, with plenty of laughs along the way. I cover the unfinished business of legalization in Canada and around the world too. 

Medical cannabis? The Reefer Madness stigma? Topicals? CBD's? Toking lounges? The government and corporate monopolies? Safety measures? Legal pardons? Criminal records? Equity issues? Or the policing of Prohibition 2.0? 

Please follow Oh Cannabis -The Twitter Edition for way, way more links than I could ever possibly post on my site! Plus keep checking here for more special features too!

MY BLOGSITE ARCHIVES

My original Oh Cannabis Newz y Viewz blogs are available in the Blogsite Archive, at the top left of your screen. 

They document the Canadian legalization process from Prime Minister Trudeau's 2015 election promise, through Legalization Day, October 18, 2018. Then how it was implemented, for better or worse, over the next three years. 

Hopefully, my primary news links and first hand insights will provide a useful historical record of our legalization movement for future reference, in the daze ahead!

A POT WINDFALL

Was it all worthwhile? Being an activist is risky. It means standing up for your rights and beliefs. Sometimes it works out, other times not, but still we do it because it is the right thing to do. Here are some of the many gains we've made in fighting for our cannabis rights:

We're free from the fear and paranoia of getting busted by the cops, or ripped off by some creep. Buying weed could be dangerous, back when I started toking in the early 1970's. Getting arrested meant jail time and a criminal record, a huge problem at home, school or work. Goodbye to all that anxiety and stress

My stash is an embarrassment of riches. There are more strains and extracts than I can smoke. More infused products than I can possibly eat or drink. Good bye to dry spells too!

The rich bounty of edibles is great for self medicating or just having fun. I've come to often prefer the cleaner, convenient and more healthier high! 

Cannabis is perfect for hibernating indoors during the winter. Also for relaxing outdoors in summer at the lake. Almost everyone use to drink but me. Drinkers argue and fight. The conversation sucks. Legalization means I'm a lonesome toker no more!

We can grow our own weed; up to 4 plants per person, even more with a medical license. Cultivation once meant serious jail time. They'd throw away the keys. Now it's just a cheaper, homegrown alternative to buying weed.

Legal dispensaries are everywhere. The underground market too. I get oils, tinctures and sprays from the first. Cheaper, more potent boo from the latter! The competition is driving prices down and the THC count up. While quality and selection just keep getting better and better. It's a huge pot windfall for consumers. We are the winners for a change!  

Perhaps there's hope yet for a more progressive approach to legalization. Our long time activist-entrepreneurs have some real skin in the game. They're now becoming consultants. Opening very cool shops. Talking real sensi on the corporate boards and even helping run the Ontario Cannabis Store too. Move over Norbert the Narc and you other dazed and confused Johnny Come Lately's! Enough of your BS, the real pros are here!

What a long strange trip it's been! I am truly honoured to have met and fought alongside so many of the great's in our struggle. I'm so glad that I could help out, even if in small part, by participating and reporting on the legalization scene.

After all is said and done, what's best of all, is that weed's now legal in Canada. I am just happy that I can self medicate the aches and pains of my senior years without hassle, at peace with our favourite weed. 

Pax!

David C

LINKS

New Directions in Blogging: Here's where I am at with these changes @ HERE!

A Stoners Guide To Oh Cannabs Newz y Viewz: Much more detailed notes @ HERE!

On My Blogsite Archives: Find links from "as it happened" in my coverage of the Karma Cup, the Project Claudia and Gator dispensary busts, Marc and Jodie Emery and the Cannabis Culture 5 Toronto Court dates, Green Market Toronto, Grandmasta P's Nugswap, and the High Society Supper Club, Toronto Vapour Lounges and Shops, Tyendinaga etc. etc. etc. @ THERE! 


COMMENTS:

Wednesday 1 December 2021

Future Directions In Blogging


As the snow falls, I gaze out my window at the city below. Weston Road and the Humber Valley lay hidden beneath a fresh, crisp blanket of snow. I'm back home in Toronto, enjoying a morning coffee and toke. Sitting with my laptop, listening to Beatle tunes. My thoughts floating on the wispy clouds of steam and smoke, languorously curling from my finger tips. 

I'm bracing myself for the long, cold winter ahead. There's been a sharp fall spike in our Covid numbers! Another dangerous new variant too!

Last spring, the pandemic hit home hard. It became quite real for us. We were horrified by the 37 cases and 5 deaths, here in our high-rise building. [Blog]

My wife Janet and I got our vaccine shots. Then had a safe summer in the city and out at the lake. Enjoying a welcome if not cautious reunion, with family and friends. We had high hopes that the worst was over. But now? 

My thoughts turn inward, as I light up another bowl of hash. I'm posting again, after not writing here on my blog site for a long while. I was just too busy living life again.

Mind you, I always write. If not here, then somewhere else. Writing is just what I do.

Recently, I wrote a whole whack of political stuff. Basic agitprop. Agitate. Educate. Organize. That sort of thing. It was edited, then posted elsewhere for another audience, under a group nom de plum, for an excellent cause close to home. 

We created quite the shit storm! The less said the better perhaps, discretion being the better part of valour.

Suffice to say, I had a lot of fun. It was very refreshing. I hadn't written for anybody but myself in quite awhile. The writing just flowed. 

Sometimes it seems like my site has become so focused on cannabis activism and social justice, my 2 favourite themes, that I feel somewhat pigeon holed as a writer, always writing about the same thing.

Of course, they are great causes to write about! Very popular too! This year my site reached 2 million hits! 

It was a personal milestone of sorts. It's truly been a very long strange trip from my Kulture Kult Ink 'zine back in the eighties to the Latest Edition blog you that are reading now. I am so honoured that my blogs are even being read. [Blog]

Still, I've decided to stop posting two of my regular features; "Oh Cannabis" and "Teachers Free Speech News", for now at least.  

I've decided to focus on the Twitter editions for both instead. It's a lot less work. Easier to keep up to date. Lotsa fun too.

When I retired from teaching, I thought I'd left the daily grind behind. But now I need to free my headspace up some more, by making this blog site less rigid and time consuming for me as a writer. I want to be able to follow my writing muse more freely, wherever it may go. Otherwise, blogging is a pretty harsh mistress indeed.

Come what may, there are still over 10 years of news and views archived here on my site. Lots and lots of history and politics, as it happened; local, national and international. Our Ontario teacher movement. The Canadian legalization struggle. Toronto life. The Ford brothers here. Trump in the states. [Blog]

Forget history and we are doomed to repeat it! The archives remain. In addition to whatever else I might write in the daze ahead. Life goes on ....

My next few blogs will provide you with a readers guide to my future directions in blogging here on the Latest Edition site, for my blog archives and the new, improved, online Twitter editions of "Oh Cannabis" and "Teacher Free Speech News and Views"!

Stay tuned! 

David C


Friday 25 June 2021

Teacher Free Speech Summer 2021 News + Views!

AddITioNs aDDeD In lArGE TypESeT! ReaDeRs gUIdE @ HERE! 

LaTeSt LinKs @ TWITTER!

OH CANADA

The Ontario election clock is ticking! On June 2nd 2022, we can finally kick Premier Doug Ford's Conservative's out at Queen's Park! Send them packing!

Sure! It should be a slam dunk. His government's been criminally negligent throughout the pandemic. We still lack proper contact tracingrapid school and workplace tests. So too, a comprehensive paid sick leave plan, a guaranteed income and an orderly vaccination program for Ontario's frontline workers. 

Meanwhile, the corporate lobbyists are reaping huge profits at Ford's cabinet table.  As the science and medical experts take a backseat to the huge cash drain from our provincial coffers to the business and development sectors.

Ford's prospects look bad but he's a wiley political beast. Plus we have to wonder: Are the opposition parties up to the task? How about our labour unions? Or our political activists, like you and me? As for the fickle Ontario voter? How quick they forget!

Often times in politics, the bottomline is organization. Plus a lot of sheer dumb luck. That's a lot to consider. We best start getting on it now! @ CP24

Reopening Ontario: Taa Daaa! Our Dougie'$ got a three $tage roadmap for return to normal of sort$. Maybe thi$ time he'll get it right?!? Let'$ not kid ourselve$. Beyond the fixed vaccination rate$, he'$ left lot$ of wiggle room, nothing'$ written in $tone. Just like before, he can $till do pretty much whatever he politically like$, whenever he $o pleases, $crew the medical Scientific evidence. With Premier Doug Fraud, $ome thing$ never change @ On.Ca

Bill 254 -Notwithstanding Doug: Ontario's CUPE, ETFO, OECTA OSSTF teacher and education worker unions win a major, provincial supreme court challenge.Yes! They have a constitutional right to voice their educational concerns. Sure the Covid concerns at our schools are horrendous. However, Premier Doug Fraud doesn't want voters talking about that, not with an election in the works. So he evokes the obscure "notwithstanding clause" to override Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Unconstitutionally limiting how long the ads can run. How much the unions can spend. Which companies they can use. Let's face it -Ford's useless at fighting a pandemic. But election rigging? That's more his style! Read the supreme court decision @ GP @ TStar Rest assured -Ford's grandstanding will be challenged! More court dates to follow @ Passage

More BS: The notwithstanding clause wasn't created for settling political issues like campaign finance law. Nor to deny anyone their constitutional rights and freedoms. Just because one can do something, doesn't mean that you should. Let's watch as Douglas learns that lesson the hard way @ CTV

Shuffling The Chairs: Disgraced former Ontario Finance Minister Rod Phillips returns to cabinet from his extended Covid holiday. He's our new Minister of Long Term Care. While Merrilee Fullerton now shifts her ... ummm ... deadly skills to the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services portfolio. Sadly, Minister of Education Stephen Lecce remains Ford's "go to" school boy. Basically, lotsa the same old shit; the same nasty smell @ Now

Unite The Left: Maybe if the Liberal and NDP formed a coalition, we could soundly defeat the Ford government for sure come next June? Sound good? Beware! If you've followed my blogs over the last ten years, you'll know that the Ontario Liberal's weren't that progressive last time they got into office. Remember the tight ass austerity measures and generous corporate tax cuts?!? Basically, we just ended up stuck with a bunch of smiley faced McGuinty-Wynne Neo-libs to replace the big, bad Harris-Eve's Neo Cons. Sigh. Alas. The NDP best be very, very careful with the provincial grits @ Huff

Money Talk$: Toronto's wealthiest neighbourhoods are also our healthiest. Yup! Somehow they've gotten a big head start with second doses of the vaccine being administered by postal code. The goal? To quickly target the Delta Covid variant from spreading more. Go figure. @ CTV

Homeless Inc: Meanwhile Toronto Police Services are very busy dispersing the growing homeless encampment at Bellwoods,Trinity Park. So who's looking out for these poor folks? No, they haven't got a postal code. That's because they lost their homes along with most everything they own, through no fault of their own, during the pandemic. Does Mayor John Tory really care?!? He sure has a strange way of showing it! No justice, no peace! BlogTo

LTC Nightmare: Remember Ford's "iron ring" around Ontario's LTC long term care homes? It was supposed to prevent any more "deaths from neglect" during the pandemic. Well, mum's the word from Ford since that turned into a total horror show. Turns out that the vaccines were his only real line of defence, but he and Hillier screwed that up too! The horrible neglect of our sick and elderly will be a very hard baked election issue for those of us who've lost a loved one, or sat helplessly by as they were being so badly mistreated! Notwithstanding Doug of course! He's hellbent on stopping the doctors, nurses and healthcare workers from speaking out. Certainly doesn't want everyone being reminded of what happened on his watch, as election time approaches. Good time for a recap @ QP

Terrorism Ontario: During an evening stroll, an innocent London, Ontario, muslim family are ruthlessly struck and killed by an angry, young, white male driver. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau rightly labels it a "terrorist attack". Canuck far right wingers erupt into a mad, feeding frenzy. Not much surprise! Here's how the PostMedia newspaper chain has been busy sparking up the Islamophobic hate fires across Ontario for years. Think Toronto Sun @ CL @ NPR

Colonialism 215 Plus: Canada's colonial lethargy gets shaken to it's historic roots! 215 indigenous children are found buried outside a Catholic residential school in Kamloops, BC. Lots more bodies will be found. This story isn't going away anytime soon. Our Prime Minister calls for a Vatican apology and asks for the church files to be released. Instead Pope Francis and the Canadian archbishops hunker down into damage control mode like never before. But now the whole world's watching @ WP @ Reuters @ Passage Trudeau @ Global The church leaders @ CBC @ NP Residential backgrounder @ IPA 

Tom Collins On The Rocks! How do 215 indigenous children die at a Catholic residential school without record or trace? Unlike the clergy, the Catholic Healthcare Networkers still have a strong social conscience and moral compass to guide them. indeed, hundreds of Catholic doctors, nurses and healthcare workers join together demanding that Toronto Archbishop Tom Collins and the church apologize immediately. Any relevant residential school documents must be released now CBC Meanwhile a very privileged looking if not rather coy Tom Collins seems sadly out of touch, spinning the same old magisterial platitudes, mansplaining the children's death away @ AT

Catholic Pride: Here's a first! Too bad it's so late! For the first time, Toronto's TCDSB, the world's largest publicly funded Catholic school board, is flying the LGBTQ flag during Gay Pride month. Surely, it's in keeping with the board's theme of "inclusion, dignity and respect for all". The Catholic teachers know that! Many Catholic parents too. So what's taken the TCDSB so long? @ CBC @ TCDSB @ OECTA

TCDSB Gay Pride -The Right Wing Watch: Tragically, the Pride Flag meetings have been like a clown show, only a lot scarier. Picture Toronto Archbishop Tom Collins gone Catholic Nationalist, wrapped in the Canadian flag and holding a cross. He's telling the Catholic Register  that these are the only 2 symbols he wants to see in the schools, especially during Gay Pride month CR

Check out the Catholic Life Site News as they gleefully defend an angry parent's thinly veiled threats against the gay community during the pride flag debate. Apparently killing the LGBTQ by drowning them with a a millstone around the neck, comes straight from scripture LS @ CC

Hey! Isn't that TCDSB trustee Mike Del Grande crashing the school board Gay Pride Flag debate? After refusing to apologize and complete an equity training program for his earlier, hateful, homophobic remarks? @ City

Watching the great debate unfold, we see TCDSB Chair Garry Tatum pledge his fealty to the archbishop and board director. He's turning to them for guidance about where to stick the gay pride flag?!? 

Homophobia clearly runs contrary to Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms.  Aiding and abetting it is wrong too. Seriously, should this type of behaviour be funded on the public dime? In our publicly funded schools of all places? Stay tuned. I doubt we've heard the last of this yet. 

IN THE NEWS

Keystone XL RIP: It's official. TC Energy finally pulls the plug on it's controversial oil pipeline across indigenous lands. But the fight isn't over. Stateside, there's still Line 3 and 5, plus the Dakota Access pipeline to go @ NR

"Weaponized Communion" or "Biden Denied" The US Catholic bishops vote to deny communion to any politician who supports abortion. They were quiet about Trump's bizarre, moral indiscretions. But now they've got pro-choice US President Joe Biden firmly lined up in their sites? It's very shaky moral ground, their absolute moral certitude inviting close scrutiny into a wide range of troubling human right issues. The church and women's rights? Homophobia? Sex abuse? Child abuse? The residential schools? What'll Pope Francis do now? Better act quick, the clock is ticking. The bedrock below St. Peters church is beginning to shift. Can you hear the rumble? @ BG

Columbia Neo Lib: Think we got it bad? Progressives in Columbia are fighting an especially vile and recessive tax reform bill. Meanwhile, the police are busy cracking down on protesters at the urging of Columbia's oligarchical, neo liberal elite. Clearly, it's street fighting time. Columbia's middle class is getting nailed with the Covid relief bill. Can't happen here?!? @ Jacobin 

Canuck Neo Lib: Guess what?!? We're implicit in the brutal repression. Yup! Canada's providing the arms, tactical training and other supports for the oligarchical baddies down Columbia way. Yeah, Justin seems so nice, but ..... Passage

Vaccine Blockade: So far, President Joe Biden is continuing the illegal US economic blockade of Cuba. As a result it's impossible to import vaccine, syringes, PPE's and even the most basic medical supplies. 

Cuba's developing it's own vaccine, will begin immunizations soon, with plans to share it throughout the developing world. But all is not well. I'm still in contact with the teachers at the Cuban schools. They report that sickness, poverty and despair are rampant with little hope in sight. 

The US is playing the same dirty political game in Venezuela. Guess Biden doesn't want to anger the latino vote in the swing state of Florida? 

To beat the coronavirus, everybody needs access to vaccine, even in countries some of us don't like. Otherwise, the new variants will keep on showing up here in the first world, time and again. Gee, thanks Joe @ Intercept 

Canuck Complicity: Unfortunately, Canada is complicit in the US vaccine blockade. We support Big Pharma's monopoly over the patents for the vaccines. Think about it -They're unavailable throughout much of the developing world, because they can't afford the price. For shame!  @ Passage

Cuba Si! For the 29th consecutive year, the UN General Assembly holds a vote on the illegal US economic embargo of Cuba. Once again, only the US and Israel are in favour of it. As for US compliance? No way @ UN

COVID BEAT

The Covid Union Wave: Quite literally, Premier Doug Fraud has nothing but praise for our province's frontline retail workers. As for sick days, a living wage, rapid testing, contact tracing, evidence based restrictions, safety conditions or PPE's? They've been secondary to Ford's political, economic agenda throughout the pandemic. As a result, our unions must earnestly begin organizing the province's forgotten workers now! To stand up for their rights! So they'll be safe at work! And can protect their families! Here in Ontario and across Canada too @ OT

A Healthcare Tsunami: The worst of the pandemic seems over, barring some dangerous, new, unforeseen variant of concern. However, full recovery often involves a lot more than just surviving the initial viral attack. Patients could be suffering the huge, long term, aftershocks to our healthcare system for many years to come! Think cardiovascular problems! Heart and lung disease! The untold mental health effects! On and on the list grows @ CBC 

Brain Fog: The long term loss of brain tissue resulting from the virus can also badly effect the "recovered" Covid patient's memory, sense of wellbeing and overall mental health @ CNBC

An Aniti-Vax Vex: An unvaccinated IT worker infects the other unvaccinated workers at a government office in Florida. Turns out everyone didn't want to get vaccinated. You don't have to wear a mask inside either. So 2 die and many more get sick. Meanwhile, the inoculated employees are fine. No problem.

I don't feel sorry for the anti-vaxers. They were warned. It's quite exasperating after awhile. Seems like just desserts. But unfortunately there isn't a vaccine for children under the age of 12 yet. They can get infected too. No, the pandemic isn't over. Bet we'll be hearing lots more horror stories like this for some time to come @ CNN

Dag Jab It: It's been confusing but it's official now; Health Canada advises that, in fact, you can mix the first and second vaccine shots of Astrazeneca, Moderna, and Pfizer, as follows @ Ca

Make That A Double: Over 70% of Canadians have received their first shot, 20% the second, as summer begins. It's still very confusing! What exactly can we and can't we do as more and more of us get inoculated? As our herd immunity grows? Some early pointers @  CBC @ CBC @ Global Plus more news on international travel @ WKBW

EDUCATION BEAT

Schools Out: The Ford government finally closed our schools early for the year, choosing at home learning rather than risk more in school community spread. Makes sense but how was the decision reached? 

True, our Douglas consulted last minute with the province's teachers and education workers. Quite frankly, they reminded him that it's kinda late, he should of done so long ago. No matter. Seems he was only listening to Arthur, his mystery pal anyway. 

Yep! Arthur somehow knew what to do about at home learning and graduation day. But when it comes to teacher and student vaccines? HVAC repairs? Contact tracing? Rapid testing? Alas! Like his pal Douglas, Arthur doesn't know. 

Too bad the big Ford Fraudster didn't just cut the malarky. Focus instead on getting our Ontario schools ready to safely reopen this fall. Who knows what happens next? Not Ontario's teachers, parents or students! More @ CBC Read the teachers letterOSSTF More on Arthur Narc @ OC

Unsafe Schools: England's unvaccinated students are proving a ready target for the new Delta variant. Think of it as a rather grim warning about the true cost of inschool learning. There could still be another deadly wave of infections, when Ontario's schools re-open this fall. The children will pay the price  @ FT

Student Mental Health: Sure, students belong in school. However, think of all the wars, catastrophes and other such interruptions throughout history. Sometimes kids just can't go to school. Childhood is too short anyway. Why the mad race to get them back? So that they can finish quickly?!? Go to work for the rest of their lives?!? 

Contrary to popular opinion, a recent study suggests that our Canadian students didn't really suffer any "extraordinary mental crisis" from either in class or at home learning, during the pandemic. Well then, let's just relax. Breath deep. It's okay @ PSY

 Lockdown -What We Learned: We were unprepared and ill equipped to deal with the pandemic in a timely, effective and equitable manner. We are very lucky that it wasn't much more virulent than it was. Hopefully we will learn from our mistakes so that we don't get caught off guard again. But don't count on it. Nope. No way @ Vision

KULTURE KULT INK

Cancel Canada Day: Should Canada Day be cancelled this year, in special recognition of the indigenous students whom died at our government and church run residential schools? PM Justin Trudeau, like NDP opposition leader Jagmeet Singh want us to celebrate while also considering it a "time of refection". Meanwhile PC Conster Erin O'Toole plays the cancel culture card, warning it's all a  ... oh oh ... radical leftist plotIdleNoMore @ Global Here's the kids version @ CBC

To Party Or Not To Party? A break from Canada Day might well be in order this year. Like it or not, we need to face the fact that racism, genocide and stolen land helped define the birth of our nation. 

It's time that sinks in. Our inglorious past can no longer be ignored or denied. On a go forward basis, truth and reconciliation are the order of the day. We must address these issues, so that real peace and justice can prevail.

I'll do so quietly in my own way, probably out in my kayak on lake Mississaganon, smoking a joint to celebrate my Canada, the one we live in today. Then paddle back to party with a small, inoculated circle of my family and friends.

As Canadians, we come from all over the world. Most of us are here to stay. Together, we are a work in progress, capable of so much better, than what history has now shown us. If we really try, perhaps even leading the way. 

I hope so. I really do. Happy Canada Day! 

COMMENTS

Wednesday 16 June 2021

Oh Cannabis Summer 2021 Newz y Viewz!

InHale! hOLd! ExHaLe! sMiLe! AddItIoNs ADDeD iN lArGe TyPe! 

StONerS GuiDe @ HERE! LaTest Links @ TWITTER!

OH CANNABIS

Covid Stage 1 Reopening: Ontario's legal cannabis dispensaries are finally re-opening for in store sales! They'll start at 15% capacity, as the vaccines kick in and the pandemic eases. Plenty of new stores are opening too! There should be a 1000 across Canada's largest province by the end of this summer. For now, home delivery and curb side pick up are still available. Perhaps we'll reach a saturation point, but for the true north, Canuck toker, can there ever really be enough cannabis stores?!? @ MJB @ MJB

It Can't Happen Here! Oh yeah?!? The new Kensory Dispensary in Toronto's hallowed Kensington Market falls victim to an especially vile, hate attack. As it gets ready to open, cowardly anti-semitic messages are spray painted across it's walls, undercover of the night. It's just the tip of the racist iceberg. Hate crimes are up 51% in Toronto this year; 34% against our jewish citizenry, 23% black, 11% LGBTQ. It's so sad. This is one of the most multicultural cities in the world. Truly, we are so much better than this. For shame @ CP24

Pot Math -The Hazy Economy: More than 2 million Canadians smoke weed. But how much is Canada's weed economy actually worth? Or more specifically, how does one accurately determine the market numbers? We high flying Canadians continue to lead the way @ Walrus

IN THE NEWS

Joints 4 Jabs: Washington leads the charge in offering free pre-rolls as an added incentive for getting a shot of the Covid vaccine @ WP @ GE

Japan-A-No-No: Weed is very, very illegal! How illegal? Get this -Japanese citizens can be arrested for smoking it abroadupon re-entering the country, if the authorities find out. So too for posting positive comments about it on social media, from the comfort of home. Though there's a ray of light yet, in the land of the rising sun! Japan might be warming up to medical cannabis when it comes to CBD's. All this and more @ Cannigma

GREEN MARKETING 

Smoke Mohawk Weed: For me, summertime in south eastern Ontario means pot shopping on Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory again. Think Shannonville, St. Mary's and Desoronto, outside Belleville, just north of the US border, due south of our Land o' Lakes trailer site. My favourites among the 50 plus shops include Legacy 420 [Here!], Peacemaker [Here], Field of Dreams [Here],  Mohawk Medibles [Here], and Medicine Man. There's countless new dispensaries like CannaMeds too. The choice of strains is fantastic. The edibles high powered, well above and beyond the candy ass 1, 2.5, 5 or 10 mg THC licensed wares sold off reserve at our provincially licensed stores. There's still lotsa seedlings, free joints and bargain priced oz's everywhere you go. This year, the Golden Teacher 'shrums are very popular with er .... kayaker's ... but the Mohawk constabulary is warning the shops that's a definite no go. Will continue to keep you up to date about what's up here on my blog and via twitter. More @ SS @ DGTA

E-Cannabis With Delivery: If there's any doubt, the Covid pandemic proved we really love buying weed online and having it delivered to our front door. Hopefully, the government licensed shops will still be allowed to provide these most welcome services, post pandemic too, just like their unlicensed counterparts. But don't count on it, not in Premier Doug Fraud's Ontario, anyway @ ADW

HIGHER LEARNING

A Guide 2 Wake + Bake Meditation: Awaken from yer slumber! Let's git lit! I see mountains. I see gawd. Ommmmmm @ Loud

Dept of Med Pot: Medical cannabis is the aware way to toke and be healthy. It's more than just a recreational buzz, though of course it is that too! Think THC verses CBD's? Smoking, vaping or edibles? The effects? The strains? The storage issues? If you're feeling overwhelmed, then apply for a medical cannabis license. You'll get expert advice on battling stress, anxiety and depression. So too, the aches and pains of everyday life. In Canada, you can call on a doctor or licensed producer to ask questions plus get product delivered directly to your home. More on the issues @ MMC The process @ Canada

Hail Pliny The Elder! Taa daaa! Archeologists have finally discovered the long, lost, ancient Roman's remains, or at least his pot smoking skull. Makes sensi eh? He was among the first, nearly 2000 years ago, to recognize cannabis' curative and psychoactive effects. As for Pliny Junior? Nope! Dunno where he's at anymore, but there's lots more high brow stuff on the eldest @ CN

Parenting High: Today's trez cool moms and dads are finding out that cannabis helps them be better parents than their stressed out, pill popping, wine, beer and spirit imbibing neighbours. Go figure @ ADW

Cannabis Decarboxylation: To cook and bake with the THC/CBD oil in your dried herb, you need to extract and prepare it first. So let's get cooking and make some very potent and mind expanding medibles ourselves. It'll $ave you a lot of money too @  EKN

HIGH TIMES

More Life: Despite all the hype about wellness, discovery and personal growth, Canuck rapper Drake has parted parts ways with licensed producer Canopy Growth. The exact reason is unclear. However, Canopy's joint ventures with Leafs By Snoop and Rogan Houseplant didn't take off either. Basically, I dropped them as a Health Canada medical cannabis patient because they're too slick and manipulative. Customer service was BS, Their weed boring, weak ass crud. But the final straw was the lowered THC count on their once fine oils. Zzzzz. Corporate weed producers suck! More @ Complex @ BNN

Karma Cup 2021: The Karma Cup returns to Toronto September 11 and 12th! All your favourite categories are back: Sativas, Indica, Hybrids, Extracts, Topicals, CBD's etc. etc. etc. Entries are due July 30th. You can register for your judge's kit now @ KarmaCup Bottom line? It can be hard to find out what's going on. The timeline for judging so may products is quite short too. Still, it's a real high, lotsa fun and very educational. Plus you get to personally check all the great weed products out for yourself! Yummy! More info @ Facebook



COMMENTS


Communist Girls ARE More Fun!

Communist Girls ARE More Fun!
See below ...

Communist Girls Are More Fun #1

Communist Girls Are More Fun #1

Communist Grrrls are More Fun #2

Communist Grrrls are More Fun #2

Communist Grrrls Are More Fun #3

Communist Grrrls Are More Fun #3

Communist Girls Are More Fun #4

Communist Girls Are More Fun #4

Art at the Paris Louvre: What does it mean?!?

Art at the Paris Louvre: What does it mean?!?
A careful analytical study!

Help! I Have No Arms!

Help! I Have No Arms!
Please scratch my back.

I can't find my underwear!.

I can't find my underwear!.
Have you seen them!

Weee! I can fly!

Weee! I can fly!
Look! I can crawl thru walls!

I have a headache!

I have a headache!
And a broken nose.

I have a square hole in my bum!

I have a square hole in my bum!

Here try this, it's very good!

Here try this, it's very good!
No. You have a bird face.

I have an ugly baby!

I have an ugly baby!
No I'm not!

Let's save all our money + buy pants!

Let's save all our money + buy pants!
OK but I need a new hand too!

Oh no! I got something in my eye!

Oh no! I got something in my eye!

You don't look well.

You don't look well.
No. My head hurts +I have a sore chest.

Would you like a bun?

Would you like a bun?

Chichen-Itza: Lost Maya City of Ruins!

Chichen-Itza: Lost Maya City of Ruins!
The Temple of Kukulkan!

Gotta love it!

Gotta love it!
Truly amazing!

Under Reconstruction!

Under Reconstruction!

Temples + Snakes!

Temples + Snakes!

The Snake!

The Snake!
It runs the length of the ball field!